(a) For purposes of this section:

(1) “Animal-assisted activity” means any activity that involves a team consisting of a registered handler and therapy animal interacting with individuals in the state;

(2) “Animal-assisted therapy” means goal-directed intervention in which a team consisting of a therapist and a therapy animal, or a therapist, registered handler and a therapy animal, is used as an integral part of the therapy process to aid individuals who have (A) experienced mental, physical or emotional trauma, (B) witnessed, or have been a victim of, an act of violence, or (C) behavioral health care needs;

(3) “Animal-assisted activity community” means the local or regional entities capable of providing animal-assisted therapy or animal-assisted activities to individuals within the state;

(4) “Animal-assisted activity organization” means any entity involved in training, evaluating or registering members of the animal-assisted activity community;

(5) “Animal-assisted critical incident response team” means a team of registered handlers and therapy animals that (A) has been identified by the Department of Children and Families, and (B) is capable of providing animal-assisted activities to individuals during and after traumatic events;

(6) “Registered handler” means an individual who has been screened, trained and registered by a national animal therapy organization to engage in animal-assisted activities or animal-assisted therapy, or both;

(7) “Therapist” means any (A) physician licensed pursuant to chapter 370 who specializes in psychiatry, (B) psychologist or professional counselor licensed pursuant to chapter 383, (C) marital and family therapist licensed pursuant to chapter 383a, or (D) clinical social worker or master social worker licensed pursuant to chapter 383b; and

(8) “Therapy animal” means any animal trained to provide comfort to individuals who have (A) experienced mental, physical or emotional trauma, (B) witnessed, or have been a victim of, an act of violence, or (C) behavioral health care needs.

(b) Not later than January 1, 2016, the Commissioner of Children and Families shall, within available appropriations, develop and implement training for certain employees of the Department of Children and Families and mental health care providers on (1) the healing value of the human-animal bond for children, (2) the value of therapy animals in dealing with traumatic situations, and (3) the benefits of animal-assisted activities and animal-assisted therapy.

(c) Not later than January 1, 2016, the Commissioner of Children and Families, in consultation with the Commissioner of Agriculture and within available appropriations, shall develop a protocol to identify and mobilize animal-assisted critical incident response teams throughout the state. Such teams shall operate on a volunteer basis and shall be available to provide animal-assisted activities to individuals during and after traumatic events within twenty-four hours of receiving notice to do so.

(d) Not later than July 1, 2016, the Commissioner of Children and Families, in consultation with the animal-assisted activity community, shall, within available appropriations, develop a protocol to (1) identify and credential animal-assisted activity organizations and providers of animal-assisted therapy in the state, and (2) utilize animal-assisted activities and animal-assisted therapy to provide aid to children and youths living with trauma and loss.

(P.A. 13-114, S. 1; P.A. 15-208, S. 1.)

History: P.A. 15-208 amended Subsec. (a) by adding definitions for “animal-assisted activity”, “animal-assisted critical incident response team”, “registered handler”, “therapist” and “therapy animal”, redefining “animal assisted therapy” and replacing “animal-assisted therapy community” with “animal-assisted activity community”, amended Subsec.(b) by replacing “2014” with “2016”, amended Subsec. (c) by replacing “2014” with “2016”, deleting provision re identification of volunteer canine crisis response team and adding provision requiring commissioner to develop protocol to identify and mobilize critical incident response teams, amended Subsec. (d) by replacing “2014” with “2016”, deleting reference to Governor's Prevention Partnership and replacing provision re development of crisis response program with provision re developing protocol, and made technical and conforming changes, effective July 6, 2015.