SB 358 — EQUINE SHELTER RESCUE & WELFARE TRUST FUNDS

SENATE CONSERVATION COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE BILL 358 57TH LEGISLATURE -STATEOFNEWMEXICO- FIRST SESSION, 2025 INTRODUCED4 BY Carrie Hamblen 6 8 10 AN ACT RELATING TO EQUINES;

ESTABLISHING THE EQUINE WELFARE TRUST FUND;FUND.

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION.

c e s k 23 [The board shall administer the fund, and] Money in the fund is e a n b 24 appropriated to the board of regents of New Mexico state u [ university for expenditure by the New Mexico department of .231381.2 SCONC/SB 358 agriculture to carry out the intent of aiding u [ equine [rescues] rescue or retirement facilities and [homeless] .229350.4 equines that are surrendered, transferred by the board or law enforcement or otherwise acquired for purposes of rescue or sanctuary in the state, including:

(2) improvingcontracting infrastructurewith andor facilities;employing equine trainers;

(3) contractingproviding withfeed orand employingpasture equineto trainers;maintain equines;

(4) providing feedfor basic and pastureemergency toveterinary maintaincare equines;or husbandry, including sterilization, fertility control or hoof care;

(5) providingadministering foradoption basicprograms and emergencyservices; veterinary care or husbandry, including sterilization, fertility control or hoof care;

and e t 17 (6) paying the costs of administering adoptionthe programsw andl services.n d 18 equine shelter rescue fund in an amount not to exceed five = = 19 percent of the annual distribution from the fund.

B.a l i a e r 20 [B.

The board shall administerestablish theby fund,rule solicitthe ea t 17m applicationsm for21 contractsdistribution of funds from eligiblethe applicantsequine forshelter wrescue lfund nto d 18r disbursementse 22 equine rescue and makeretirement disbursementsfacilities ofregistered by the availableboard fundsc e s k 23 pursuant to =Section =77-2-30 19NMSA 1978, taking into e a ln eligibleb applicants24 thatconsideration meetthe fundingnumber criteriaof onequines anbeing annualcared ifor ain eeach ru 20[ basis.facility and the need of each facility.] .231381.2 - 2 - SCONC/SB 358 B.

aThe tNew mMexico mdepartment 21of C.agriculture shall administer the fund, solicit applications for contracts from eligible applicants for disbursements and make disbursements of the available funds to eligible applicants that meet funding criteria on an annual basis.

ToC. receive a contract for services, an applicant d r e 22 shall apply to the board on forms and in a manner prescribed by c e s k 23 the board.

To receive a contract for services, an applicant shall apply to the New Mexico department of agriculture on forms and in a manner prescribed by the department.

e a n b 24 (1) a description of the proposed services or u [ project for which the applicant is seeking funds via a contract .229350.4 - 2 - agreement;

and (3) details and specifics as to the reasonable e t 17 expected costs and the time frame of the proposed project or w l n d 18 services.

[B.]= = 19 D.

TheTo boardbe shalleligible establishto [byreceive rule] rules for the distribution of funds from the equine sheltera rescuel fundi toa equinee rescuer and20 retirementshelter facilitiesrescue registeredfund, byan theapplicant boardshall: pursuant to Section 77-2-30 NMSA 1978, taking into consideration the number of equines being cared for in each facility and the need of each facility.

Thea boardt shallm providem that21 funds(1) remainingbe unspenta pursuantregistered toequine arescue contractor ford servicesr aftere a22 specifiedretirement lengthfacility ofin timeaccordance shallwith beSection refunded77-2-30 toNMSA thec equinee shelters rescuek fund.23 1978;

e ta 17n E.b 24 (2) be in good standing with the board and in u [ compliance with Section 77-2-31 NMSA 1978;

To.231381.2 - 3 - SCONC/SB 358 (3) if the applicant is a private organization, be eligiblea tax-exempt organization pursuant to receiveSection funds501(c)(3) fromof the equinefederal wInternal lRevenue nCode dof 181986 sheltercompliant rescuewith fund,the anstate applicantdepartment shall:of justice;

=(4) =adhere 19to aAmerican lassociation (1)of be a registered equine rescuepractitioners orguidelines ipursuant ato erules rpromulgated 20by retirementthe facilityboard; in accordance with Section 77-2-30 NMSA a t m m 21 1978;

d r e 22 (2) be in good standing with the board and in c e s k 23 compliance with Section 77-2-31 NMSA 1978;

e a n b 24 (3) be a tax-exempt organization pursuant to u [ Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 in good .229350.4 - 3 - standing with the state department of justice;

(4) adhere to American association of equine practitioners guidelines;

F.E.

TheBeginning boardOctober shall1, appoint2028 anand advisoryeach committeeOctober consisting1 ofthereafter, eightthe membersNew toMexico makedepartment recommendationsof toagriculture theshall boardsubmit fora approvalreport ofto applicationsthe forlegislative contractsfinance pursuantcommittee tothat thisshall section.include the following:

The committee shall include:

(1) three representatives from equine rescue or retirement facilities registered with the board, each from a different facility, serving in an advisory but nonvoting capacity;

(2) two representatives from an animal welfare organization with tax-exempt status pursuant to Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 in good standing with the state department of justice and with demonstrated e t 17 knowledge of equine welfare;

w l n d 18 (3) the state veterinarian or the state = = 19 a l veterinarian's designee who is a veterinarian licensed to i a e r 20 practice in New Mexico;

a t m m 21 (4) the executive director of the board or the d r e 22 executive director's designee;

and c e s k 23 (5) one public member deemed by the board to e a n b 24 have knowledge relevant to equine welfare or the administration u [ of the fund.

.229350.4 - 4 - G.

Beginning October 1, 2028 and each October 1 thereafter, the board shall submit a report to the legislative finance committee that shall include the following:

(4) how much funding the contracting entity e t 17 has expended;

w l n d 18 (5) the progress or completion of the = = 19 contract;

a l i a e r 20 (6) how the contract supports equine welfare;

a t m m 21 (7) an explanation for why any funds remaining d r e 22 in the equine shelter rescue fund were not distributed to c e s k 23 eligible entities;

e a n b 24 (8) the number of proposed contracts, and u [ their costs, that were approved for but did not receive funding e.231381.2 t- 174 - SCONC/SB 358 due to the insufficiency of available funds in the equine w l n d 18 shelter rescue fund;