Alaska 34th Alaska State Legislature Status: To Executive 2 I cosponsors

HB 70 — An Act relating to emergency medical services for operational canines; relating to the powers, duties, and liability of emergency medical technicians and mobile intensive care paramedics; relating to the practice of veterinary medicine; relating to civil liability of veterinarians; and providing for an effective date.

Last action — (H) VETOED BY GOVERNOR 7/16/25

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed House
  4. ✓
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been sent to the executive. Introduced January 27, 2025. It awaits signature.

Vetoed by Governor Mike Dunleavy (Republican) on July 30, 2025.

Next likely step: the executive signs it into law or issues a veto.

Odds of enactment

Low chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 66% · moderate confidence
  • To Executive

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 2 sponsors

    1 primary, 1 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (2 I).

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 4 recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

191 added · 182 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recent changes to HB 70 include adding new provisions regarding emergency medical services for operational canines and clarifying the roles and responsibilities of emergency medical technicians and paramedics. This matters because it ensures that specialized care can be provided to working dogs, which play critical roles in various operations, and provides legal clarity for medical professionals working with these animals. Additionally, it streamlines regulations for veterinarians, enhancing their ability to respond efficiently in emergencies.

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Latest
34-LS0245\N HOUSE BILL NO.
LAWS OF ALASKA Source Chapter No.
70 IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - FIRST SESSION BY REPRESENTATIVES SCHRAGE, Galvin Introduced:
SCS CSHB 70(HSS) _______ AN ACT Relating to emergency medical services for operational canines;
1/27/25 Referred:
Health and Social Services, Labor and Commerce A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED "An Act relating to emergency medical services for operational canines;
and providing for an effective date." BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
relating to civil liability of veterinarians;
* Section 1.
and providing for an effective date.
AS 08.98.125 is amended to read:
_______________ BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
Sec.
THE ACT FOLLOWS ON PAGE 1 Enrolled HB 70 AN ACT Relating to emergency medical services for operational canines;
08.98.125.
relating to the powers, duties, and liability of emergency medical technicians and mobile intensive care paramedics;
Exemptions.
relating to the practice of veterinary medicine;
This chapter does not apply to the following:
relating to civil liability of veterinarians;
(1) a veterinary medical officer in the military service in the discharge of official duties or as an employee in the federal or state government performing veterinary medical services within the scope of the person's official duties;
and providing for an effective date.
(2) a veterinarian who is licensed in another state or country, or a person whose expertise a veterinarian licensed in this state believes would benefit an animal, and who provides only consultation to a veterinarian licensed in this state;
_______________ * Section 1.
in this paragraph, "consultation" means advice or assistance provided in person, HB0070a -1- HB 70 New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS0245\N telephonically, electronically, or by any other method of communication from a veterinarian or other person whose expertise, in the opinion of the veterinarian, would benefit the animal;
AS 08.98.120(a) is amended to read:
[AND] (3) a veterinarian licensed and residing in another state who provides assistance, as requested by and under the supervision of a veterinarian licensed in this state, for the purpose of providing skills not otherwise available in this state in conducting research or other practice of veterinary medicine on captive or free-ranging wildlife;
(a) A person may not practice veterinary medicine, surgery, or dentistry unless the person is licensed as a veterinarian under this chapter or has a temporary permit issued under AS 08.98.186, except that a person may perform [FUNCTIONS AUTHORIZED BY] (1) functions authorized by regulation of the board if the person is licensed as a veterinary technician;
however, that assistance is limited to not more than three events in a calendar year for not more than a total of 60 days in the year and may not be on a regular or recurring basis, as defined by the board;
[OR] (2) functions authorized by a permit issued under AS 08.02.050 if the person is employed by an agency that has a permit issued under AS 08.02.050;
and (4) an emergency medical technician or mobile intensive care paramedic providing emergency medical services to an operational canine as provided under AS 18.08.093.
or -1- Enrolled HB 70 (3) emergency medical services on an operational canine under AS 18.08.093 if the person is certified as an emergency medical technician or licensed as a mobile intensive care paramedic.
AS 09.65.097 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:
(c) A veterinarian licensed in this jurisdiction who in good faith receives the transfer of an operational canine under AS 18.08.093(b) is not liable for civil damages as a result of an act or omission of the emergency medical tec nhician or mobile intensive care paramedic who transferred the operational canine to the veterinarian.
* Sec.
3.
(5) enter a building, including a private dwelling, or premises where a report of an injury or illness has taken place or where there is a reasonable cause to HB 70 -2- HB0070a New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS0245\N believe an individual or operational canine has been injured or is ill to render emergency medical care;
(5) enter a building, including a private dwelling, or premises where a report of an injury or illness has taken place or where there is a reasonable cause to believe an individual or operational canine has been injured or is ill to render emergency medical care;
and (6) direct the removal or destruction of a motor vehicle or other thing that the emergency medical technician or mobile intensive care paramedic determines is necessary to prevent further harm to injured or ill individuals or operational canines.
and (6) direct the removal or destruction of a motor vehicle or other thing that the emergency medical technician or mobile intensive care paramedic determines is necessary to prevent further harm to injured or ill individuals or operational Enrolled HB 70 -2- canines.
3.
4.
AS 18.08.082(a) is amended to read:
(a) The department shall prescribe by regulation a course of training or other requirements prerequisite to the issuance of certificates or licenses that provide for the following:
(1) certification of a person who meets the training and other requirements as an emergency medical technician, emergency medical technician instructor, or emergency medical dispatcher;
(2) authorization for an emergency medical technician certified under this chapter to provide under the written or oral direction of a physician the advanced life support services enumerated on the certificate or enumerated on a written document filed with the department by the technician's medical director and approved by the department under its regulations;
(3) certification that a person, organization, or government agency that provides an emergency medical service, conducts a training course for a mobile intensive care paramedic, or represents itself as a trauma center meets the minimum standards prescribed by the department for that service, course, or designation;
(4) authorization for an emergency medical service certified under this chapter to provide under the written or oral direction of a physician the advanced life support services enumerated on the certificate or enumerated on a written document filed with the department by the medical director for the emergency medical service and approved by the department under its regulations;
[AND] (5) licensure of a mobile intensive care paramedic and the medical services that a mobile intensive care paramedic may perform, including the (A) educational and other qualifications, which may include education in pain management and opioid use and addiction;
(B) application and licensing procedures;
(C) scope of activities authorized;
and (D) responsibilities of a supervising or training physician;
and (6) authorization for an emergency medical technician certified under this chapter or mobile intensive care paramedic licensed under this -3- Enrolled HB 70 chapter to provide to operational canines the emergency medical services enumerated on a written document filed with the department by the medical director and approved by the department in regulation.
* Sec.
5.
4.
6.
When requested for the purpose of evaluating the performance of an emergency medical technician, mobile intensive care paramedic, or physician who provided emergency medical care or other assistance to a sick or injured person, a licensed physician, advanced practice HB0070a -3- HB 70 New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS0245\N registered nurse, or physician assistant may disclose to an emergency medical technician, [A] mobile intensive care paramedic, or physician the medical or hospital records of a sick or injured person to whom the paramedic, technician, or physician is providing or has rendered emergency medical care or assistance.
When requested for the purpose of evaluating the performance of an emergency medical technician, mobile intensive care paramedic, or physician who provided emergency medical care or other assistance to a sick or injured person, a licensed physician, advanced practice registered nurse, or physician assistant may disclose to an emergency medical technician, [A] mobile intensive care paramedic, or physician the medical or hospital records of a sick or injured person to whom the paramedic, technician, or physician is Enrolled HB 70 -4- providing or has rendered emergency medical care or assistance.
5.
7.
Show all 58 changed rows (18 more)
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6.
8.
HB 70 -4- HB0070a New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS0245\N Sec.
Sec.
(a) If a veterinarian is unavailable to provide emergency medical services to an operational canine in a reasonable amount of time, an emergency medical technician or mobile intensive care paramedic may provide emergency medical services to the operational canine as long as the emergency medical technician or mobile intensive care paramedic (1) has received training on providing emergency medical services to operational canines;
(a) An emergency medical technician or mobile intensive care paramedic may provide emergency medical services to an operational canine if the emergency medical -5- Enrolled HB 70 technician or mobile intensive care paramedic (1) reasonably determines that there is an immediate danger of serious harm to or death of the operational canine and that a veterinarian is unavailable to provide emergency medical services to the operational canine soon enough to address the danger;
(2) is trained to provide comparable medical services to a human;
(2) is authorized to provide the emergency medical services to an operational canine under AS 18.08.082(a)(6);
(3) is authorized to provide the comparable medical service to a human under the scope of the emergency medical technician's or mobile intensive care paramedic's certification or license;
and (3) meets at least one of the following requirements:
and (4) meets at least one of the following requirements:
(b) An emergency medical technician or mobile intensive care paramedic who provides an emergency medical service to an operational canine under (a) of this section shall (1) transfer the operational canine to a licensed veterinarian at the earliest practicable opportunity;
(b) An emergency medical technician or mobile intensive care paramedic who provides an emergency medical service to an operational canine under (a) of this section shall transfer the operational canine to a licensed veterinarian at the earliest practicable opportunity.
and (2) comply with all laws governing the administration of drugs or biologics to a human when administering a drug or biologic to an operational canine.
(c) An emergency medical technician or mobile intensive care paramedic may not provide emergency medical services to an operational canine under (a) of this section if a person requires emergency medical services from the emergency medical technician or mobile intensive care paramedic.
7.
9.
AS 18.08.100(b) is amended to read:
HB0070a -5- HB 70 New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 34-LS0245\N (b) If an individual certified or licensed under this chapter determines in the course of a telehealth encounter with a patient that some or all of the encounter will extend beyond the individual's authorized scope of practice, the individual shall advise the patient that the individual is not authorized to provide some or all of the services to the patient, recommend that the patient contact an appropriate provider for the services the individual is not authorized to provide, and limit the encounter to only those services the individual is authorized to provide.
If the patient is an operational canine, the individual shall provide the advice and recommendation to the person who owns or is authorized to make medical decisions about the operational canine.
The individual certified or licensed under this chapter may not charge for any portion of an encounter that extends beyond the individual's authorized scope of practice.
* Sec.
8.
* Sec.
Enrolled HB 70 -6- * Sec.
9.
10.
HB 70 -6- HB0070a New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]
-7- Enrolled HB 70
View plain text versions (6)

How this bill changes current law

9 changes Share ↗

AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

The bill enhances the legal framework for providing emergency medical services to operational canines by outlining specific roles and protections for emergency medical technicians and veterinarians.

  • AS 08.98.120(a)

    [FUNCTIONS AUTHORIZED BY] → emergency medical services on an operational canine under AS 18.08.093 if the person is certified as an emergency medical technician or licensed as a mobile intensive care paramedic.

    This change allows certified emergency medical technicians and licensed paramedics to provide emergency services specifically for operational canines.

  • AS 09.65.097

    (c) A veterinarian licensed in this jurisdiction who in good faith receives the transfer of an operational canine under AS 18.08.093(b) is not liable for civil damages as a result of an act or omission of the emergency medical technician or mobile intensive care paramedic who transferred the operational canine to the veterinarian.

    This establishes legal protection for veterinarians receiving operational canines from emergency medical personnel, reducing their liability.

  • AS 18.08.075(a)

    trespass on [UPON] property → trespass on property

    This change simplifies the text regarding authorized entry onto property by emergency medical technicians and paramedics.

  • AS 18.08.082(a)

    [AND] → ; and

    This update adjusts the phrasing in the regulatory framework for emergency medical technician training requirements.

  • AS 18.08.082(a)

    (6) authorization for an emergency medical technician certified under this chapter or mobile intensive care paramedic licensed under this chapter to provide to operational canines the emergency medical services enumerated on a written document filed with the department by the medical director and approved by the department in regulation.

    This permits emergency medical technicians and paramedics to perform specific emergency services for operational canines.

  • AS 18.08.086(a)

    , or a person or public agency that employs, sponsors, directs, or controls the activities of persons certified or licensed under AS 18.08.082 who administer emergency medical services to an injured or sick canine

    This expands the liability protection to include agencies employing licensed emergency medical providers in the context of operational canines.

  • AS 18.08.087

    [A]

    This text adjustment affects how medical records can be disclosed for performance evaluations of emergency personnel.

  • AS 18.08.087

    (b) When requested for the purpose of evaluating the performance of an emergency medical technician or mobile intensive care paramedic who provided emergency medical care or other assistance to a sick or injured operational canine, a licensed veterinarian may disclose to an emergency medical technician or mobile intensive care paramedic the medical or hospital records of a sick or injured operational canine to whom the technician or paramedic is providing or has rendered emergency medical care or assistance.

    This allows veterinarians to share medical records of operational canines with emergency personnel for the purpose of performance evaluation.

  • AS 18.08.093

    Emergency medical services for operational canines. (a) An emergency medical technician or mobile intensive care paramedic may provide emergency medical services to an operational canine if the emergency medical technician or mobile intensive care paramedic meets specified criteria.

    This section establishes the legal framework for emergency medical services specifically tailored for operational canines.

Action History

  1. (H) VETOED BY GOVERNOR 7/16/25

  2. (H) 11:45 A.M. 6/30/25 Transmitted to Governor

  3. (H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE

  4. (H) CONCUR AM OF (S) Y34 N6

  5. (H) TITLE CHANGE: SCR 9

  6. (H) CONCUR MESSAGE TAKEN UP

  7. (H) CONCUR MESSAGE RECEIVED

  8. (S) VERSION: SCS CSHB 70(HSS)

  9. (S) TRANSMITTED TO (H) AS AMENDED

  10. (S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE

  11. (S) PASSED Y20 N-

  12. (S) READ THE THIRD TIME SCS CSHB 70(HSS)

  13. (S) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING UC

  14. (S) HSS SCS ADOPTED UC

  15. (S) READ THE SECOND TIME

  16. (S) RULES TO CALENDAR 5/20/2025

  17. (S) Minutes (SL&C)

  18. (S) Moved SCS CSHB 70(HSS) Out of Committee

  19. (S) LABOR & COMMERCE at 01:30 PM BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)

  20. (S) FN1: ZERO(DOH)

  21. (S) NR: DUNBAR, MERRICK, YUNDT

  22. (S) DP: BJORKMAN, GRAY-JACKSON

  23. (S) TITLE CHANGE: SCR 9

  24. (S) L&C RPT SCS(HSS) 2DP 3NR

  25. (S) FN1: ZERO(DOH)

  26. (S) DP: DUNBAR, CLAMAN, TOBIN, GIESSEL

  27. (S) TITLE CHANGE: SCR 9

  28. (S) HSS RPT SCS(HSS) 4DP NEW TITLE

  29. (S) Minutes (SHSS)

  30. (S) Moved SCS CSHB 70(HSS) Out of Committee

  31. (S) HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES at 03:30 PM BUTROVICH 205

  32. (S) Minutes (SHSS)

  33. (S) Heard & Held

  34. (S) HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES at 03:30 PM BUTROVICH 205

  35. (S) HSS, L&C

  36. (S) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

  37. (H) VERSION: CSHB 70(L&C) AM

  38. (H) TRANSMITTED TO (S)

  39. (H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE

  40. (H) PASSED ON RECONSIDERATION Y32 N8

  41. (H) RECON TAKEN UP - IN THIRD READING

  42. (H) COSPONSOR(S): GALVIN

  43. (H) COSTELLO NOTICE OF RECONSIDERATION

  44. (H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE

  45. (H) PASSED Y29 N8 E3

  46. (H) READ THE THIRD TIME CSHB 70(L&C) AM

  47. (H) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 4/25 CALENDAR

  48. (H) AM NO 1 ADOPTED UC

  49. (H) L&C CS ADOPTED UC

  50. (H) READ THE SECOND TIME

  51. (H) RULES TO CALENDAR 4/23/2025

  52. (H) FN1: ZERO(DOH)

  53. (H) NR: COULOMBE, SADDLER

  54. (H) DP: BURKE, CARRICK, NELSON, HALL, FIELDS

  55. (H) L&C RPT CS(L&C) 5DP 2NR

  56. (H) Minutes (HL&C)

  57. (H) Moved CSHB 70(L&C) Out of Committee

  58. (H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 03:15 PM BARNES 124

  59. (H) Minutes (HL&C)

  60. (H) Scheduled but Not Heard

  61. (H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 03:15 PM BARNES 124

  62. (H) Minutes (HL&C)

  63. (H) Heard & Held

  64. (H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 03:15 PM BARNES 124

  65. (H) Minutes (HL&C)

  66. (H) Heard & Held

  67. (H) LABOR & COMMERCE at 03:15 PM BARNES 124

  68. (H) FN1: ZERO(DOH)

  69. (H) NR: RUFFRIDGE, MINA

  70. (H) DNP: PRAX, SCHWANKE

  71. (H) DP: FIELDS, MEARS

  72. (H) HSS RPT CS(HSS) 2DP 2DNP 2NR

  73. (H) Minutes (HHSS)

  74. (H) Moved CSHB 70(HSS) Out of Committee

  75. (H) HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES at 03:15 PM DAVIS 106

  76. (H) Minutes (HHSS)

  77. (H) Heard & Held

  78. (H) HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES at 03:15 PM DAVIS 106

  79. (H) Minutes (HHSS)

  80. (H) Heard & Held

  81. (H) HEALTH & SOCIAL SERVICES at 03:15 PM DAVIS 106

  82. (H) HSS, L&C

  83. (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 1 co-sponsors · 63 not signed on · 10 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (1)

Not signed on (63)

63 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 63 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Concur

Passed 34 Yea · 6 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 1000
R 15600
D 13000
N 5000
Total 34600
% of votes cast 85%15%0%0%
How each member voted (40)

Official roll call →

Passed 20 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 2000
R 9000
D 9000
Total 20000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (20)
Member Party Vote
Shelley Hughes — Yea
Mike Shower — Yea
Bill Wielechowski D Yea
Donald Olson D Yea
Elvi Gray-Jackson D Yea
Forrest Dunbar D Yea
Jesse Kiehl D Yea
Lyman Hoffman D Yea
Löki Tobin D Yea
Matt Claman D Yea
Scott Kawasaki D Yea
Bert Stedman R Yea
Cathy Giessel R Yea
Gary Stevens R Yea
James Kaufman R Yea
Jesse Bjorkman R Yea
Kelly Merrick R Yea
Mike Cronk R Yea
Robert Myers R Yea
Robert Yundt R Yea

Official roll call →

Passed 32 Yea · 8 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 1000
R 13800
D 13000
N 5000
Total 32800
% of votes cast 80%20%0%0%
How each member voted (40)

Official roll call →

Passed 29 Yea · 8 Nay · 3 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 1000
R 10803
D 13000
N 5000
Total 29803
% of votes cast 73%20%0%8%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Robyn Niayuq Burke — Yea
Andi Story D Yea
Andrew Gray D Yea
Andy Josephson D Yea
Ashley Carrick D Yea
Carolyn Hall D Yea
Donna Mears D Yea
Genevieve Mina D Yea
Maxine Dibert D Yea
Neal Foster D Yea
Nellie Unangiq Jimmie D Yea
Sara Hannan D Yea
Ted Eischeid D Yea
Zack Fields D Yea
Alyse Galvin N Yea
Bryce Edgmon N Yea
Calvin Schrage N Yea
Ky Holland N Yea
Rebecca Himschoot N Yea
Bill Elam R Yea
Cathy Tilton R Nay
Chuck Kopp R Yea
Dan Saddler R Nay
David Nelson R Yea
DeLena Johnson R Yea
Elexie Moore R Yea
Frank Tomaszewski R Not Voting
George Rauscher R Nay
Jamie Allard R Not Voting
Jeremy Bynum R Yea
Jubilee Underwood R Yea
Julie Coulombe R Yea
Justin Ruffridge R Not Voting
Kevin McCabe R Yea
Louise Stutes R Yea
Mia Costello R Nay
Mike Prax R Nay
Rebecca Schwanke R Nay
Sarah Vance R Nay
Will Stapp R Nay

Official roll call →

Subjects

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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 70?
HB 70 is sponsored by Alyse Galvin (N) and Calvin Schrage (N).
What is the current status of HB 70?
This bill has been sent to the executive. Introduced January 27, 2025. It awaits signature.
Where can I track HB 70?
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