10A NCAC 26E .0107      APPROVAL OF CANINE CERTIFICATION ASSOCIATIONS BY THE DEPARTMENT of health and human services

(a)  The Department of Health and Human Services shall approve a canine certification association that requests approval and meets the requirements as set forth in this Rule.

(b)  Each canine certification association shall utilize certification standards that require the dog handler to demonstrate competence in the following areas:

(1) basic canine obedience;

(2) canine safety;

(3) drug detection; and

(4) legal aspects of searches and controlled substances identification.

(c)  The canine certification association shall make available to DHHS the certification procedures and standards it plans to employ.

(d)  The certification procedures and standards shall certify the dog handler and drug detection dog as a team.

(e)  The canine certification association shall submit documentation to DHHS showing the following:

(1) the certification procedures and standards it utilizes are accepted as valid by a court of law; and

(2)           the dog handler/drug detection dog teams that have obtained certifications from that association are accepted as valid by a court of law.

(f)  The DHHS shall review the certification procedures and standards to verify the association's compliance with the requirements as set forth in this Rule.

(g)  The approval of a canine certification association by the DHHS shall be valid for three years.  Canine certification associations that want to maintain approval shall request renewal from DHHS prior to the end of the three year period.

(h)  The DHHS shall maintain a list of approved canine certification associations.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 90-102.1; S.L. 2003-398;

Eff. February 1, 2005;

Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. February 2, 2016.