NH SB573

Creates new RSA chapter 167-E establishing certification standards for facility comfort dogs, handlers, and handling teams in New Hampshire

Requires facility comfort dogs to complete Canine Good Citizen (CGC), Advanced CGC, and Urban CGC certifications by age 2, with minimum 1 hour quarterly structured training thereafter

Mandates handlers be emergency response or public safety workers (law enforcement, firefighters, EMS, dispatchers, etc.) who complete the same three AKC certifications plus crisis intervention and canine first aid training

Requires facility comfort dog teams to recertify every 3 years, with existing teams given one year from the effective date to meet requirements

Allows certified facility comfort dogs to accompany handlers into public facilities while performing official duties such as critical incident stress management, school support, and crisis response

Prohibits misrepresenting a dog as a certified facility comfort dog and interfering with teams performing official duties