16 Del. C. § 3037F: Mandatory reporting requirement [For application of this section, see 85 Del. Laws, c. 415, § 4].

(a) For purposes of this section:

(1) “Animal” means as defined under § 1325 of Title 11.

(2) “Cruelty to animals” means as defined under § 1325 of Title 11.

(3) “Veterinarian” means as defined under § 3302 of Title 24.

(b) A veterinarian who suspects cruelty to animals must report the suspected animal cruelty to the Office of Animal Welfare, or the appropriate reporting authority, for investigation.

(c) A veterinarian who in good faith reports suspected cruelty to animals is immune from any liability, civil or criminal, that might otherwise exist as a result of making the report. The immunity provided by this subsection extends to the individual’s participation in any judicial proceeding resulting from the good faith report of suspected animal cruelty. A veterinarian who in good faith reports suspected animal cruelty may not be subject to professional discipline by the Board of Veterinary Medicine for making the report.

(d) (1) All records and reports provided by the veterinarian under this section and the veterinarian’s identity are confidential and may not be released unless:

a. By a court order.

b. If required by another law.

c. With the consent of the veterinarian who filed the report.

(2) Not withstanding paragraph (d)(1) of this section, the Office of Animal Welfare or any other enforcement agency may release any records or reports required by this section to the Board of Veterinary Medicine on request.

(e) All veterinarians must complete 1 hour of training on the requirements of this section as follows:

(1) For veterinarians currently practicing in this State, prior to license renewal.

(2) For veterinarians applying for an initial state license, prior to the issuance of the initial license.

(f) All veterinarians must complete 1 hour of training on the requirements of this section every 6 years after the initial training.

(g) The training required by this section must include the signs and symptoms of suspected cruelty to animals. Prior to an initial application for licensure or a license renewal, the veterinarian must attest to the Board of Veterinary Medicine that the veterinarian has completed the mandatory reporting training required under this section.

(h) The Board of Veterinary Medicine may impose any disciplinary sanction under § 3317 of Title 24 for a violation of this section.

(i) The Office of Animal Welfare and any other enforcement agency responsible for investigating cruelty to animals under this section must adopt confidential procedures to protect the identity of the veterinarian who makes a report under this section, including any information from the report.