NC H648

Exempts emergency medical services personnel from veterinary medicine licensing requirements when providing emergency medical transport or services to injured K-9 police animals or certified search and rescue dogs at emergency scenes.

Emergency medical dispatchers are excluded from this exemption and are not considered emergency medical services personnel for purposes of this provision.

Provides limited immunity protecting emergency medical services personnel from prosecution when acting in good faith, though immunity does not extend to gross negligence, wanton conduct, or intentional wrongdoing.

Defines search and rescue dogs as those certified by any national certification organization and deployed by or contracted with federal, state, or local agencies or departments.

Effective date is October 1, 2021, applying to acts on or after that date.