12 CAR Part 23 — Rino’s Law

Chapter V

Subchapter A

Subpart 1

12 CAR § 23-101 Title {#sec-12-car-23-101 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-12-part-23--12 CAR § 23-101}

12 CAR § 23-101. Title.

This part shall be known as "Rino’s Law".

12 CAR § 23-102 Definitions {#sec-12-car-23-102 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-12-part-23--12 CAR § 23-102}

12 CAR § 23-102. Definitions.

As used in this part:

(1) "Certified" means a law enforcement officer in the State of Arkansas who is recognized by the Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training as meeting standards required by the Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training;

(2)(A) "Division canine handler" means a full-time or part-time certified law enforcement officer who is employed by the Division of Arkansas State Police and works as a canine handler.

(B) This definition also includes retired certified law enforcement officers who were employed by the Division of Arkansas State Police and worked as a canine handler;

(3) "Expenses" means out-of-pocket costs incurred in connection with the purchase of food, flea and tick prevention, and veterinarian bills for a retired canine over the course of one (1) fiscal year;

(4) "Family member" means a Division of Arkansas State Police canine handler's spouse, parent, or guardian of a child-in­common, or minor child or children, who has either adopted or otherwise owns the retired canine;

(5) "Fiscal year" means the twelve-month period that begins on July 1 of every year and ends on June 30 of the following year;

(6) "Medical care" means all emergency and nonemergency medical care rendered by a veterinarian of the canine handler’s choosing;

(7) "Retired canine" means a canine that is both:

(A) Retired from the Division of Arkansas State Police; and

(B) Adopted by a:

(i) Division of Arkansas State Police canine handler; or

(ii) Family member of the Division of Arkansas State Police canine handler;

(8) "Terminal illness" means a disease or condition that cannot be cured and is likely to lead to a person's death and prevents or significantly impairs the person's ability to work as a law enforcement officer or to otherwise earn comparable wages in another line of work;

(9) "TR-1 form" means the Department of Public Safety Travel Authorization form, otherwise known as DPS 203-1; and

(10) "Veterinarian" means a medical professional who is qualified to treat animals and practices veterinary medicine.

12 CAR § 23-103 Administrative procedures {#sec-12-car-23-103 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-12-part-23--12 CAR § 23-103}

12 CAR § 23-103. Administrative procedures.

(a) The Secretary of the Department of Public Safety or their designee shall administer Rino’s Law.

(b) The reimbursement should be provided to the eligible law enforcement officers or their family within ten (10) days of receipt of the request and required documentation by the secretary.

12 CAR § 23-104 Scope {#sec-12-car-23-104 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-12-part-23--12 CAR § 23-104}

12 CAR § 23-104. Scope.

This part shall govern the Secretary of the Department of Public Safety or their designee in administering Rino's Law to provide up to two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) per year in reimbursements for the costs of food, flea and tick infestation prevention, and veterinarian bills to a canine retired from the Division of Arkansas State Police.

12 CAR § 23-105 Objective {#sec-12-car-23-105 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-12-part-23--12 CAR § 23-105}

12 CAR § 23-105. Objective.

To alleviate financial hardships suffered by a Division of Arkansas State Police canine handler and/or his or her family member for the costs of food, flea and tick infestation prevention, and veterinarian bills for a canine that is retired from the division and adopted by either:

(1) The division canine handler; or

(2) His or her family member.

12 CAR § 23-106 Eligibility criteria {#sec-12-car-23-106 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-12-part-23--12 CAR § 23-106}

12 CAR § 23-106. Eligibility criteria.

In order to be eligible for relief under Rino's Law, an individual must be either a:

(1) Division of Arkansas State Police canine handler and submit a signed TR-1 form as detailed in 12 CAR § 23-107; or

(2) Family member of a division canine handler and submit a:

(A) Signed TR-1 form as detailed in 12 CAR § 23-107; and

(B) W-9 form as detailed in 12 CAR § 23-108.

12 CAR § 23-107 Application for relief {#sec-12-car-23-107 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-12-part-23--12 CAR § 23-107}

12 CAR § 23-107. Application for relief.

On an application for reimbursement under this section by either a Division of Arkansas State Police canine handler or a family member, the Secretary of the Department of Public Safety or their designee shall require the following:

(1)(A) A signed TR-1 form that has logged all expenses to be reimbursed.

(B) Specifically, the expenses shall be logged under the "Incidentals" column;

(2) The TR-1 form shall include all supporting documents and required receipts for expenses incurred in connection to the purchase of food, flea and tick infestation prevention, and veterinarian bills on behalf of the canine;

(3) Whenever feasible, supporting documents and required receipts should reference the name of both the division canine handler, the family member of a division canine handler who has either adopted or otherwise owns the canine, and/or the retired canine's name;

(4) Any other information or records the secretary determines might be necessary to establish the need of the officer or their family for a grant to be issued under this program; and

(5) The TR-1 form must be submitted thirty (30) days before the end of the fiscal year.

12 CAR § 23-108 Family members eligible for relief {#sec-12-car-23-108 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-12-part-23--12 CAR § 23-108}

12 CAR § 23-108. Family members eligible for relief.

(a) Upon the Division of Arkansas State Police canine handler's death or diagnosis of a terminal illness, his or her family members may apply to adopt the retired canine and apply for relief under Rino's Law.

(b) The family member who has either adopted or otherwise owns the canine is required to submit a completed W-9 form to the Department of Public Safety, in addition to the TR-1 form as detailed in 12 CAR § 23-107.

12 CAR § 23-109 Reimbursement limits {#sec-12-car-23-109 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-12-part-23--12 CAR § 23-109}

12 CAR § 23-109. Reimbursement limits.

(a) Each family of a Division of Arkansas State Police canine handler or division canine handler who is determined to be eligible to receive reimbursement under Rino's Law may receive payment of up to two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) per year for the costs of:

(1) Food;

(2) Flea and tick infestation prevention; and

(3) Veterinarian bills.

(b) Those eligible to receive reimbursement may submit:

(1) Multiple requests for reimbursement throughout the year, but no later than thirty (30) days before the end of the fiscal year, up to two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500); or

(2) One (1) request for reimbursement thirty (30) days before the end of the fiscal year for bills that total two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) combined.

12 CAR § 23-110 Reimbursement denials {#sec-12-car-23-110 omnilex-key=us-ar-regs-official--title-12-part-23--12 CAR § 23-110}

12 CAR § 23-110. Reimbursement denials.

(a) The Secretary of the Department of Public Safety or their designee shall have the ability to deny a request for reimbursement in whole or in part made under this part.

(b) The denial shall:

(1) Be in writing; and

(2) State the reasons why the request was denied.