Georgia legislation · 2025-2026 Regular Session
Georgia HB990: Public Safety, Department of; creation of a program to assist former handlers and adopters of retired law enforcement dogs with veterinary care costs; provide
Status: Passed one chamber, March 25, 2026
A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 2 of Title 35 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions relative to the Department of Public Safety, so as to provide for the creation of a program to assist former handlers and adopters of retired law enforcement dogs with veterinary care costs; to provide for the selection of a charitable organization to administer and manage said program; to provide for the disbursement of funds for qualifying veterinary care for retired law enforcement dogs; to provide limitations on the amount of funds disbursed; to provide authorization for the selected charitable organization to use certain funds to pay administrative expenses; to provide for definitions; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
What the bill says
To amend Chapter 6A of Title 35 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, so as to provide for the creation of a grant program to assist former handlers and adopters of retired law enforcement dogs, charitable organizations serving such dogs, and qualified law enforcement foundations with veterinary care costs for such dogs; to provide for purposes and authority of the grant program; to provide for sources of funding; to provide for administration of the program by the council…
From the introduced text:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED To amend Chapter 6A of Title 35 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, so as to provide for the creation of a grant program to assist former handlers and adopters of retired law enforcement dogs, charitable organizations serving such dogs, and qualified law enforcement foundations with veterinary care costs for such dogs; to provide for purposes and authority of the grant program; to provide for sources of funding; to provide for administration of the program by the council; to establish criteria and procedures for such grants; to provide for annual grant limit; to provide for definitions; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA SECTION 1. Chapter 6A of Title 35 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, is amended by revising Code Section 35-6A-13, which is reserved, as follows: "35-6A-13. (a) As used in this Code section, the term: LC 63 0151S (1) 'Charitable organization' means an organization that meets the requirements of paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of Code Section 14-3-1302, provided that such organization is recognized as tax exempt under Section …