Sec. 15. 7 MRSA §3923-G is enacted to read:

§3923-G.__Internet licensing project

1.__Procedure developed; municipality participation. The commissioner may develop and implement a procedure by which a dog owner can electronically apply for and be issued a dog license using a publicly accessible site on the Internet.__A municipality may choose to participate in the__electronic dog licensing project by__contacting and working with the commissioner. Electronic licensing is available only to residents of a municipality that requests and is accepted by the commissioner to participate in the electronic licensing project. The commissioner may limit the number of municipalities that participate in the project.

2.__Forms; verification of rabies immunization.__The commissioner shall develop a form to be used for electronic licensing under this section.__The commissioner shall consult with the Commissioner of Human Services to establish the information needed to verify rabies immunization.

3.__Payment of licensing fee.__The commissioner shall establish a mechanism for accepting payment of license fees by credit card.__An owner or keeper who applies for a dog license using the publicly accessible site on the Internet developed pursuant to subsection 1 shall pay the fee required under section 3923-A and an additional service fee of $1 for each license to cover administrative costs and pay the Internet service provider.

4.__Distribution of licensing fee.__The commissioner shall deposit all fees received under this section into the Animal Welfare Fund. The commissioner shall establish procedures for participating municipalities to periodically receive the appropriate credit or payment for license fees collected by the department under this section.__A municipality is entitled to a payment or credit of $3 for each dog licensed under this section.__ All payments or credits received by a municipality must be deposited or credited to the municipality's animal welfare account established in accordance with section 3945.

5.__Sticker requirement.__Notwithstanding section 3923-B, for a dog licensed under this section, the commissioner may waive the requirement that a sticker indicating the year for which a license is valid be affixed to the tag. An owner of a dog that