BILL REQ. #:  S-2151.1 

READ FIRST TIME 02/27/07.   

     AN ACT Relating to emergency preparedness planning for service animals and household pets; adding new sections to chapter 38.52 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 38.52 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The governor, through the Washington state emergency management division of the military department in consultation with but not limited to the Washington animal response management team established under the Washington comprehensive emergency management plan, representatives of local emergency management, and the department of agriculture, shall adopt rules no later than twelve months following the effective date of this act in accordance with the federal pets evacuation and transportation standards act of 2006, 109 P.L. 308, 120 Stat. 1725, and pending federal emergency management agency guidelines. The state emergency management plan, including rules, regulations, and guidelines, shall include provisions to support the needs of individuals with household pets or service animals in a major disaster or emergency and shall be reviewed and updated at least every two years.
     (2) Each county and municipality in the state in accordance with existing federal requirements shall prepare a written emergency management plan with all appropriate annexes necessary to implement the plan. These plans shall include provisions to support the needs of individuals with a household pet or service animal in a major disaster or emergency. Each emergency management plan shall be adopted no later than one year after the state emergency management plan has been adopted by the state office of emergency management and shall be evaluated at such subsequent scheduled review of the state comprehensive emergency management plan.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 38.52 RCW to read as follows:
     When engaged in emergency management activities, an emergency responder may make every practicable attempt under the circumstances, without endangering human life, to rescue a service animal or household pet.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   If specific funding for the purposes of this act, referencing this act by bill or chapter number, is not provided by June 30, 2007, in the omnibus appropriations act, this act is null and void.