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Committee releases bill to reimburse adopters of retired law-enforcement horses up to $5,000
Summary
The House Health Committee voted to release Senate Bill 38 with Senate Amendment 1, which would authorize reimbursements to owners who adopt state-owned retired law-enforcement horses for veterinary care and related expenses, up to $5,000 annually. The measure applies only to state-owned horses and will be forwarded to the full House.
The House Health Committee on Wednesday voted to release Senate Bill 38 with Senate Amendment 1, an act to amend Title 16 of the Delaware Code to provide financial support for owners who adopt horses retired from service with specified state law enforcement agencies. Representative Carson presented the bill to the committee.
The bill would reimburse owners of state-owned retired law-enforcement horses — those that have served with the Department of Corrections, Delaware State Police, Capitol Police, DES?REC (not specified in the text), or the Office of the State Fire Marshal — for veterinary care and related services up to $5,000 per year. The bill does not cover municipalities or horses that retired before the act’s implementation; Delaware State Police would set regulations for disbursing the funds, and the Comptroller General’s office has confirmed the fund is revolving.
Representative Carson, speaking to the committee, said the measure is modeled on the state’s law enforcement canine reimbursement program: “This act provides financial support to owners who adopt a horse that retired from serving with Department of Corrections, State or Capitol Police, DedRec, or the Office of State Fire Marshal.” He told the committee the amount originally proposed was $3,000 but was raised to $5,000 “after considering the funds needed to cover the veterinary and appropriate handling of remains once deceased.”
Carson also provided details about the current mounted herd, saying most horses are young (about 5 to 7 years old), one is 16 and may retire soon with a work-related leg injury, horses typically work until about age 20 and can live to about 25, and the program may see roughly one retirement every five years on average.
There was no public testimony in person or on Zoom on the bill. A motion to release the measure was made and seconded (the transcript records Representative Hensley as the second; the mover’s name is not specified in the record). The committee conducted a roll call vote. Recorded votes in favor included Representatives Chiquucha, Neal, Burns, Heffernan, Johnson, Kaye Smith, Snyder Hall, Jones Giltner, Hensley, Holosky, Postals and Mike Smith. Representatives Harris, Ross Levin and Shupe were recorded as absent. Having received the required number of votes, the motion carried; the bill will be presented from committee to the full House.
The bill’s next step is consideration by the full House, where members not present for the committee vote may sign on. The committee record indicates staff will collect committee members’ signatures and that the bill will be reported on the legislative website if it is released from committee.
