HB 19-1180 Summary

• Redefines "police working horse" to mean a horse currently working full-time or part-time as part of a law enforcement team and meeting law enforcement standards, removing the requirement for current certification from a specific state or national agency.

• Clarifies that police working horses are included in animal cruelty laws and receive the same protections as certified police working dogs and service animals.

• Establishes that violations against police working horses are class 1 misdemeanors with mandatory minimum fines of $1,000 for second or subsequent convictions and required completion of anger management or other appropriate treatment programs.

• Requires courts to order restitution for veterinary expenses, replacement costs if the horse is permanently disabled or killed, and training and certification costs if the offense involved malicious intent.

• Extends immunity from civil liability to good-faith reporters of suspected cruelty to police working horses to local law enforcement or the state bureau of animal protection.