Minnesota House File 4215 seeks to fund a program that would provide grants to nonprofit organizations that train and place therapy dogs in state and local law enforcement agencies located in Minnesota to aid in treating peace officers suffering from job-related trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder and to assist in responding to calls involving persons in crisis.
The American Kennel Club (AKC) strongly supports the training and use of dogs by humans, whose lives are enriched by dogs’ performing essential services. Dogs provide a wide variety of valuable services including: handicapped assistance dogs; drug, bomb, and arson detection dogs; and tracking dogs to locate missing persons and fugitives. Increasingly, they have also proven highly effective as therapy dogs in facilities and high stress group situations. AKC encourages the continuation and further development of the use of dogs for these and similar purposes.
AKC believes that properly trained therapy and service dogs can be invaluable to the mental and emotional health of America’s peace officers.
AKC supports HF 4215, and encourages Minnesota residents to express support of the bill to the members of the House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee, which is scheduled to consider HB 4215 on Tuesday, March 5, 2024.
Representative Kelly Moller, Chair – 651-296-0141, rep.kelly.moller@house.mn.gov
Representative Sandra Feist, Vice Chair – 651-296-4331, rep.sandra.feist@house.mn.gov
Representative Paul Novotny, Minority Lead – 651-296-4237, rep.paul.novotny@house.mn.gov (HF 4215 Sponsor)
Representative Jamie Becker-Finn – 651-296-7153, rep.jamie.becker-finn@house.mn.gov
Representative Brion Curran – 651-296-4342, rep.brion.curran@house.mn.gov
Representative Elliott Engen – 651-296-2365, rep.elliott.engen@house.mn.gov (HF 4215 Sponsor)
Representative Cedrick Frazier – 651-296-4255, rep.cedrick.frazier@house.mn.gov
Representative Matt Grossell – 651-296-4265, rep.matt.grossell@house.mn.gov
Representative Athena Hollins – 651-296-4224, rep.athena.hollins@house.mn.gov
Representative Walter Hudson – 651-296-1534, rep.walter.hudson@house.mn.gov
Representative John Huot – 651-296-4306, rep.john.huot@house.mn.gov
Representative Patricia Mueller – 651-296-4193, rep.patricia.mueller@house.mn.gov (HF 4215 Sponsor)
Representative Dave Pinto – 651-296-4199, rep.dave.pinto@house.mn.gov
Representative Brad Tabke – 651-296-8872, rep.brad.tabke@house.mn.gov
Representative Jeff Witte – 651-296-4240, rep.jeff.witte@house.mn.gov
Interested parties may also attend the committee hearing in person to express support of HF 4215. The hearing will be held at 10:30AM on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in Room 200 of the State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155.
For more information on HF 4215 or other Minnesota legislation, contact AKC Government Relations at doglaw@akc.org.