Bill Text: DE HB287 | 2023-2024 | 152nd General Assembly | Draft
Bill Title: An Act To Amend Title 16 Of The Delaware Code Relating To Retired Law-enforcement Canines.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 9-4)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-03-27 - Reported Out of Committee (Health & Human Development) in House with 14 On Its Merits [HB287 Detail]
Download: Delaware-2023-HB287-Draft.html
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SPONSOR: |
Rep. Dukes & Sen. Pettyjohn & Sen. Wilson |
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Reps. Baumbach, Cooke, Hensley, Lynn, Osienski, D. Short, Michael Smith, Spiegelman, Yearick |
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY
HOUSE BILL NO. 287
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 16 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO RETIRED LAW-ENFORCEMENT CANINES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:
Section 1. Amend § 3096F, Title 16 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:
§ 3096F. Veterinary care for retired law-enforcement canines [For application of this section, see 84 Del. Laws, c. 164, § 2].
(a) For purposes of this section:
(1) “Department” means any of the following:
a. Department of Correction.
b. Department of Safety and Homeland Security for the State Police and Capitol Police.
c. Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.
d. State Fire Prevention Commission for the Office of the State Fire Marshal ; .
e. Any Police Department of a political subdivision of the State of Delaware.
(2) “Owner” means the person who, under written agreement with the Department that the retired law-enforcement canine assisted, has taken possession of the retired law-enforcement canine.
(3) “Retired law-enforcement canine” means a canine previously trained for and used by a Department to assist with the performance of law-enforcement duties.
(4) “Veterinary care” means the medical care provided by a “veterinarian,” as defined in § 3302 of Title 24. “Veterinary care” includes the costs of prescription medication, surgery to remedy substantial risk to life or health, and cremation. “Veterinary care” does not include elective surgery.
(b) (1) The Department , as defined in paragraphs (a)(1)a., b., c., or d. of this section, that the retired law-enforcement canine assisted shall reimburse an owner up to $1,500 annually for veterinary care expenses paid by the owner for the care of that retired law-enforcement canine.
(2) The Department of Safety and Homeland Security for law-enforcement canines retired from Departments as defined in paragraphs (a)(1)e. of this section, shall reimburse an owner up to $1500 annually for veterinary care expenses paid by the owner for the care of the retired law-enforcement canine.
(c) (1) The Department , as defined in paragraphs (a)(1)a., b., c., or d. of this section, that the retired law-enforcement canine assisted shall require that the owner provide documentation of the veterinary care expenses.
(2) The Department of Safety and Homeland Security shall require that the owner provide documentation of the veterinary care expenses for the retired law-enforcement canine of a Department as defined in paragraph (a)(1)e. of this section.
(d) The Department of Correction, the Department of Safety and Homeland Security, the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, and the State Fire Prevention Commission shall each promulgate regulations to establish a reimbursement process under this section.
Section 2. This Act is effective immediately and shall be implemented 6 months after enactment. This Act does not apply to law-enforcement canines that retire before the implementation date of this Act.
SYNOPSIS
This act requires that an owner be reimbursed up to $1,500 annually for veterinary care expenses paid by the owner for the care of a law-enforcement canine retired from a police department of a political subdivision of the State of Delaware.
The Department of Safety and Homeland Security is the implementing agency for this act.
