By: Louderback H.B. No. 2823

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to establishing a grant program for qualified medical expenses of retired law enforcement dogs.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. The heading to Chapter 614, Subchapter L, Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER L. RETIREMENT AND CARE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT ANIMAL

SECTION 2. Sec. 614.211, Government Code, is amending by adding Subsection (3) to read as follows:

(3) "Veterinarian" has the meaning assigned by Sec. 801.002(6), Occupations Code.

SECTION 3. Chapter 614, Subchapter L, Government Code, is amended by adding Sections 614.218, 614.219, and 614.220 to read as follows:

Sec. 614.218. RETIRED LAW ENFORCEMENT DOG MEDICAL ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM.

(a) The comptroller shall establish and administer a grant program to provide financial support for qualified medical expenses to transferees who adopt retired dogs under this subchapter.

(b) The comptroller may award a grant to a transferee for qualified medical expenses under this section using funds appropriated for that purpose. The comptroller may accept gifts, grants, or donations for the purpose of administering funds under this section.

(c) Grants awarded to a transferee under this section shall be used to assist a qualified transferee provide medical care for a retired dog with a qualified medical expense. For the purpose of this section, a qualified medical expense is care provided to a dog for the purpose of caring for:

(1) severe injury threatening the life, mobility, or long-term health of the dog; or

(2) illness or disease threatening the life, mobility, or long-term health of the dog.

(c) Grants may not be awarded under this section for:

(1) a dog with no reasonable possibility of recovery as determined by a qualified veterinarian under Sec. 614.219; or

(2) any retired law enforcement animal other than a dog.

(d) Not later than 30 days after the final receipt of a qualified medical expense, the transferee may submit an application for a grant to the comptroller. An application submitted to the comptroller under this section must include:

(1) a description of the qualified medical expense;

(2) a statement by a veterinarian under Sec. 614.219; and

(3) any identifying information required by the comptroller

Sec. 614.219. VETERINARIAN REVIEW REQUIRED. (a) An application submitted to the comptroller under this subchapter must include a statement from a veterinarian validating a qualified medical expense under Sec. 614.218.

(b) A statement submitted by a veterinarian must:

(1) describe any treatment or procedure used to treat the dog for which a grant application was submitted;

(2) indicate whether any treatment performed on a dog for whom a transferee submits a grant application:

(i) was performed to treat a condition described by Sec. 614.218(c); and

(ii) the dog on which treatment was performed had a reasonable chance of recovery in the veterinarian's professional judgment; and

(3) provide any identifying information required by the comptroller.

Sec. 614.220. RULES. (a) The comptroller shall adopt rules necessary to implement this section, including rules that establish:

(1) a standardized application process, including the form to be used to apply for a grant and the manner of submitting the form;

(2) a standardized form and guidance for submission of a qualified veterinarian review under Sec. 614.219;

(3) deadlines for:

(A) disbursement of grant money; and

(B) spending grant money; and

(4) procedures for:

(A) monitoring the disbursement of grant money to ensure compliance with this section; and

(B) the return of grant money that was not used by a transferee for a purpose authorized by this section.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.