CO SB038

Establishes the crime of unlawful equine slaughter, which includes slaughtering horses, mules, or burros when any part will be used for human consumption, or possessing, importing, exporting, buying, selling, or accepting equines or equine meat intended for human consumption.

Provides a safe harbor exemption allowing equine slaughter for use by facilities feeding predators housed at the facility, including transactions through secondary markets for equine products.

First violation is a class 1 misdemeanor with mandatory minimum fine of $1,000; second or subsequent violation within 10 years is a class 5 felony with mandatory minimum fine of $5,000; obtaining equine by fraud or theft while committing unlawful slaughter is a class 4 felony with mandatory minimum fine of $10,000.

Imposes permanent prohibition on convicted persons from owning, possessing, or caring for equines and bars them from participating in public livestock markets for 3 to 5 years.

Requires warning notices on equine bills of sale and at livestock auctions informing sellers of the criminal prohibitions and penalties for selling equines for human consumption slaughter.