Senate Passes Two Domestic Abuse Bills

The Delaware Senate on Tuesday passed the first two pieces of a three-part legislation package that collectively seeks to weave animal welfare into the state’s existing protections against domestic violence.  Senate Bills 70 and 71 passed unanimousy. House Bill 95 is being considered in the House today.

First introduced in late March, all three bills build on a significant body of research that shows a link between animal cruelty and domestic violence against family members. For instance, one study found that 75% of abused women who have a companion animal reported a history of that pet being threatened or intentionally harmed by their intimate partner. Another found that 60% of people who reported witnessing or committing animal cruelty as a child as reported child mistreatment or domestic abuse in their homes. 

Senate Bill 70 would add several actions against a person’s companion animal or service animal to the definition of abuse for protection from abuse (PFA) proceedings, including engaging in cruelty, inflicting physical injury, and engaging in a course of alarming or distressing conduct. 

SB 70 also would provide Family Court the authority to include provisions in a protection from abuse order that grant a petitioner exclusive care, custody, or control of a companion animal and order a petitioner to stay away from the companion animal. 

According to the Animal Welfare Center, 37 states currently provide for pets to be included in protection from abuse orders. 

“I want to thank my Senate colleagues for recognizing that our pets are members of our family who too often get caught in the middle of family disputes and used as tools of manipulation or abuse,” said prime sponsor Sen. Nicole Poore. “This legislation will give Family Court the authority to treat animal violence as a red flag in a protection-from-abuse case and help keep family pets away from abusers.” 

Senate Bill 70 – Protecting Pets from Domestic Abuse	Currrent Status – Senate Passes 21-0.
House Sponsors – Griffith, Heffernan, Lynn, Williams, Baumbach, Bolden, Romer // Short	Senate Sponsors – Poore, Hansen, Walsh, Hoffner, Sokola // Richardson
House Yes Votes –	Senate Yes Votes – Brown Gay Hansen Hoffner Huxtable Lockman Mantzavinos McBride Paradee Pinkney Poore Sokola Sturgeon Townsend Walsh // Buckson Hocker Lawson Pettyjohn Richardon Wilson
House No Votes –	Senate No Votes –
House Absents or Not Voting –	Senate Absent or Not Voting –

Senate Bill 71 requires law enforcement agencies, the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families, and the Department of Justice to report suspected animal cruelty to the Office of Animal Welfare that is discovered while performing their responsibilities in child welfare cases. 

SB 71 also would provide immunity to people who in good faith, report suspected animal cruelty. 

“Injuring an animal is often a precursor to violence against a child, spouse, or intimate partner,” said prime sponsor Sen. Stephanie Hansen, D-Middletown. “Social workers and caseworkers can play key roles in cross-reporting animal abuse and human violence. The legislation passed by the Senate today will direct enforcement agencies to be on the lookout for warning signs that may indicate future abuse and report it to the Office of Animal Welfare.” 

Both SB 70 and SB 71 now head to the House for final consideration. 

Senate Bill 71 – Immunity to those who report Animal Cruelty	Currrent Status – Senate passes 21-0
House Sponsors – Griffith, Heffernan, Lynn, Williams, Baumbach, Bolden, Romer // Short	Senate Sponsors – Poore, Hansen, Walsh, Hoffner, Sokola // Richardson
House Yes Votes –	Senate Yes Votes – Brown Gay Hansen Hoffner Huxtable Lockman Mantzavinos McBride Paradee Pinkney Poore Sokola Sturgeon Townsend Walsh // Buckson Hocker Lawson Pettyjohn Richardon Wilson
House No Votes –	Senate No Votes –
House Absents or Not Voting –	Senate Absent or Not Voting –