Bill Text: DE HB415 | 2025-2026 | 153rd General Assembly | Draft
Bill Title: An Act To Amend Titles 16 And 24 Of The Delaware Code Relating To Veterinarians And Mandatory Reporting Requirements.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 9)
Status: (Introduced) 2026-06-16 - Reported Out of Committee (Sunset Committee (Policy Analysis & Government Accountability)) in House with 2 Favorable, 1 On Its Merits [HB415 Detail]
Download: Delaware-2025-HB415-Draft.html
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SPONSOR: |
Rep. Griffith & Rep. Phillips & Rep. K. Williams & Sen. Poore & Sen. Hansen & Sen. Walsh |
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Reps. Ortega, Snyder-Hall; Sen. Hoffner |
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY
HOUSE SUBSTITUTE NO. 1
FOR
HOUSE BILL NO. 415
AN ACT TO AMEND TITLES 16 AND 24 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO VETERINARIANS AND MANDATORY REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:
Section 1. Amend Subchapter III, Chapter 30F, Title 16 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:
§ 3037F. Mandatory reporting requirement.
(a) For purposes of this section:
(1) “Animal” means as defined under § 1325 of Title 11.
(2) “Cruelty to animals” means as defined under § 1325 of Title 11.
(3) “Veterinarian” means as defined under § 3302 of Title 24.
(b) A veterinarian who suspects cruelty to animals must report the suspected animal cruelty to the Office of Animal Welfare, or the appropriate reporting authority, for investigation.
(c) A veterinarian who in good faith reports suspected cruelty to animals is immune from any liability, civil or criminal, that might otherwise exist as a result of making the report. The immunity provided by this subsection extends to the individual’s participation in any judicial proceeding resulting from the good faith report of suspected animal cruelty. A veterinarian who in good faith reports suspected animal cruelty may not be subject to professional discipline by the Board of Veterinary Medicine for making the report.
(d) (1) All records and reports provided by the veterinarian under this section and the veterinarian’s identity are confidential and may not be released unless:
a. By a court order.
b. If required by another law.
c. With the consent of the veterinarian who filed the report.
(2) Not withstanding paragraph (d)(1) of this section, the Office of Animal Welfare or any other enforcement agency may release any records or reports required by this section to the Board of Veterinary Medicine on request.
(e) All veterinarians must complete 1 hour of training on the requirements of this section as follows:
(1) For veterinarians currently practicing in the State, prior to license renewal.
(2) For veterinarians applying for an initial state license, prior to the issuance of the initial license.
(f) All veterinarians must complete 1 hour of training on the requirements of this section every 6 years after the initial training.
(g) The training required by this section must include the signs and symptoms of suspected cruelty to animals. Prior to an initial application for licensure or a license renewal, the veterinarian must attest to the Board of Veterinary Medicine that the veterinarian has completed the mandatory reporting training required under this section.
(h) The Board of Veterinary Medicine may impose any disciplinary sanction under § 3317 of Title 24 for a violation of this section.
(i) The Office of Animal Welfare and any other enforcement agency responsible for investigating cruelty to animals under this section must adopt confidential procedures to protect the identity of the veterinarian who makes a report under this section, including any information from the report.
Section 2. Amend § 3306, Title 24 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:
§ 3306. Board of Veterinary Medicine — Powers and duties.
(a) The Board of Veterinary Medicine shall have authority to:
(6) Establish by rule and regulation continuing education standards required for license renewal; renewal, which must include training on mandatory reporting requirements under § 3037F of Title 16.
Section 3. Amend § 3309, Title 24 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:
§ 3309. Issuance of license; renewal; inactive status; reinstatement.
(d) Each licensure application and licensure renewal application under this chapter must include an attestation that the applicant has completed the mandatory reporting training requirement under § 3037F of Title 16.
Section 4. This Act applies to all licenses issued or renewed after December 31, 2026.
SYNOPSIS
This Act requires that all veterinarians report any suspected cruelty to animals to the Office of Animal Welfare or the appropriate reporting authority. Veterinarians must complete mandatory reporting training every 6 years and attest that they have completed mandatory training in any application for licensure or licensure renewal. The Board of Veterinary Medicine may impose disciplinary sanctions for violations of this Act. All reports provided by a veterinarian under this Act are confidential and may only be disclosed under specific circumstances. Under this Act, the Office of Animal Welfare and any other enforcement agency responsible for investigating animal abuse must adopt confidential procedures to protect the identity of the veterinarian making a report.
