| Summary |
The wild horse working group is given the duty in statute to study
wild horse management in Colorado and make recommendations. The
group has made a report with its preliminary recommendations. The bill
adds many of these recommendations in the wild horse statutes.
Under current law, the wild horse project is a nonprofit,
state-owned corporate entity that manages and operates programs
benefitting wild horses and supports wild horse management. The bill
repeals the wild horse project and transfers the statutory duties concerning
wild horses to the department of agriculture (department). The bill repeals
and replaces the wild horse stewardship program and the wild horse
fertility program with support efforts managed by the department and
with an immunocontraception program managed by the department.
The bill authorizes the department to provide
immunocontraception and material support in herd management areas to
keep wild horse populations at appropriate management levels. The
material support may include:
•
Using state employees or contracting with others to
administer immunocontraception;
•
Providing funding to or administrative support to other
state agencies, federal agencies, and nonprofit entities to
hire employees or contract with agents to administer
immunocontraception;
•
Coordinating events where immunocontraception is
administered;
•
Buying or funding the purchase of equipment or
technology; and
•
Coordinating with educational institutions to provide
training, certification, or internships to individuals
administering immunocontraception.
The department may primarily address federally protected wild
horses but may also address other wild horses.
The department may, when reasonable and effective:
•
Expand efforts to engage nonprofit organizations and
foundations that are not normally associated with wild
horse advocacy organizations;
•
Engage individuals and businesses for funding, promotion,
and education using iconic wild horse imagery; and
•
Develop a logo and brand.
The department may provide staff, resources, or information to:
•
Develop a system of shared equipment and staff expertise
to loan out;
•
Develop training programs and certifications;
•
Cooperate with the federal bureau of land management to
develop additional training, holding, or adoption
opportunities; and
•
Cooperate with the department of corrections to create and
expand opportunities for people confined in a correctional
facility.
The bill creates a wild horse advisory committee. The wild horse
advisory committee has the same makeup as the current wild horse
working group, but legislative appointments are changed to at large
appointment and the mandatory appointments are made by the
commissioner of agriculture. The advisory committee will meet at least
once every year and may have additional meetings as necessary. The
advisory committee shall advise the commissioner of agriculture and the
department concerning:
•
Financial and material support for wild horse adopters,
sanctuaries, preserves, and refuges;
•
The content and delivery of outreach, education, training,
and certification;
•
Working with the federal bureau of land management and
wild horse preserves, sanctuaries, and refuges to coordinate
the movement of wild horses off herd management areas
and other lands into temporary holding, adoption events,
and other options;
•
Coordinating or assisting with compliance checks to ensure
that adopted wild horses are well cared for and that wild
horse adopters have the support needed to successfully care
for wild horses;
•
Coordinating and cooperating with other entities to ensure
comprehensive information about adoption and adoption
success is widely publicized and is available to the public;
and
•
Any different or additional scientifically proven
immunocontraceptive fertility control method the
department may consider using.
The wild horse advisory committee sunsets on September 1, 2030,
which is in 5 years. Before the repeal, the advisory committee is
scheduled for sunset review.
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