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FL S0688
Bill
AI Summary
- Establishes the "Canine Heroes for First Responders Act," creating a competitive grant program jointly administered by the Department of Law Enforcement and the Division of State Fire Marshal to fund support dogs for law enforcement and first responder agencies
- Grants must be used to procure, train, and maintain support dogs aimed at reducing occupational stress and improving mental health and wellness among first responder personnel
- Support dogs must be spayed/neutered, at least 1 year old, measure between 20 and 30 inches at the withers, have no history of aggression training, pass the American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen test or equivalent, and be medically cleared by a licensed veterinarian
- Handlers must be full-time agency employees, complete certified handler training, pass a background check, and commit to ongoing training and annual certification; up to 10 percent of awarded grant funds may be allocated to training initiatives
- Grant recipients must submit annual reports detailing program outcomes, costs, and effectiveness metrics such as employee satisfaction, stress level reductions, and first responder participation rates; the administering agencies will conduct periodic reviews and site visits for compliance
Legislative Description
Canine Support Grant Program for First Responders
Last Action
Died in Criminal Justice
6/16/2025
Full Bill Text
No bill text available