H.E.A. 1085, P.L. 186
Effective: July 1, 2017
Amends an Indiana Code section requiring an emergency medical services provider to take custody of a newborn child under certain circumstances to eliminate an ambiguity that might otherwise exist with respect to one of the circumstances under which the requirement applies. Provides that a person who forcibly enters a motor vehicle to remove a domestic animal is responsible for only one-half of the cost of repairing the motor vehicle damage directly caused by the person’s forcible entry and is immune from all other civil or criminal liability for other property damage resulting from the forcible entry if the person: (1) reasonably believes that the domestic animal is in imminent danger of suffering serious bodily harm; (2) determines that the motor vehicle is locked and forcible entry of the motor vehicle is necessary to remove the domestic animal; (3) calls 911 or otherwise attempts to contact a law enforcement officer or another emergency responder before forcibly entering the motor vehicle; (4) uses no more force than reasonably necessary; and (5) remains with the domestic animal until a law enforcement officer or other emergency responder arrives.
Provides that a law enforcement officer, a firefighter, a government officer or employee whose primary duty is to ensure public safety, another emergency responder, an animal control officer, a veterinarian, or a veterinary assistant who forcibly enters a motor vehicle to remove a domestic animal is not liable for the cost of repairing damage to the motor vehicle caused by the person’s forcible entry if the person was acting in the course and scope of the person’s employment.
Provides that if a person forcibly removes a domestic animal from a motor vehicle and the domestic animal physically injures the person, the owner of the domestic animal is immune from civil liability for the person’s injuries.
The full law is available at: https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2017/bills/house/1085