<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<section article="gps" article_name="Public Safety" number="3-526" title_number="3" title_name="Law Enforcement" subtitle_number="5">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>This section applies only to publicly owned dogs that are:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>licensed under § 2–313 of this article; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>used by a State or local fire and rescue entity in fire and rescue work.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A State or local law enforcement agency or State or local fire and rescue entity that removes from duty a dog used in law enforcement or fire and rescue work shall reimburse an individual who, under a written agreement with the law enforcement agency or State or local fire and rescue entity, takes possession of a law enforcement dog on or after October 1, 2020, or a fire and rescue dog on or after October 1, 2022, for reasonable and necessary veterinary treatment provided to the dog.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Reimbursement under paragraph (2) of this subsection:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>may be only for usual and customary veterinary treatment that is not attributable to abuse or neglect of the dog and is verified by written receipt; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>may not exceed $2,500 during a calendar year and $10,000 over the life of the dog.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <level label="i">
        <level label="1">
          <text>A State law enforcement agency or fire and rescue entity may accept public donations to meet the requirements of this section.</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>The revenue from donations by the public shall be distributed to the K–9 Compassionate Care Fund, which is not subject to appropriation by the Governor, to be used only to meet the requirements of this section.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>A local law enforcement agency or fire and rescue entity may establish a separate fund to accept and manage public donations in order to meet the requirements of this section.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In this section, “Fund” means the K–9 Compassionate Care Fund.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>There is a K–9 Compassionate Care Fund.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The purpose of the Fund is to provide for veterinary care of retired State law enforcement dogs adopted under subsection (a) of this section.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>The Department of State Police shall administer the Fund.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <level label="i">
        <text>The Fund is a special, nonlapsing fund that is not subject to § 7–302 of the State Finance and Procurement Article.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The State Treasurer shall hold the Fund separately, and the Comptroller shall account for the Fund.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="6">
      <text>The Fund consists of:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>public donations accepted by a State law enforcement agency under subsection (a)(4) of this section;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>money appropriated in the State budget to the Fund;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>interest earnings; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>any other money from any other source accepted for the benefit of the Fund.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="7">
      <text>The Fund may be used only for the reimbursement of usual and customary veterinary treatment that is not attributable to abuse or neglect of an adopted former State law enforcement dog that is verified by written receipts and for administrative expenses.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="8">
      <text>The State Treasurer shall invest the money of the Fund in the same manner as other State money may be invested.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="9">
      <text>Any interest earnings of the Fund shall be credited to the Fund.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="10">
      <text>Expenditures from the Fund may be made only in accordance with the State budget.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="11">
      <text>Money expended from the Fund for the veterinary care of retired State law enforcement dogs adopted under subsection (a) of this section is supplemental to and is not intended to take the place of funding that would otherwise be appropriated for the veterinary care of retired State law enforcement dogs.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
</section>
