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An Act To Increase Funding for the Spaying and Neutering of Companion Animals
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 7 MRSA §714, sub-§2,  as repealed and replaced by PL 2001, c. 422, §2, is amended to read:
 
2. Fees.   The commissioner shall deposit 1/21/4 of the fees collected pursuant to subsection 1 in the General Fund, 1/4 of the fees collected in the Companion Animal Sterilization Fund established under section 3910-B and 1/2 of the fees collected in the Animal Welfare Fund established under section 3906-B.
Sec. 2. 7 MRSA §3910-B, sub-§1,  as amended by PL 2005, c. 510, §6, is further amended to read:
 
1. Establishment.   There is established the Companion Animal Sterilization Fund, an interest-bearing account, referred to in this section as "the fund." The fund receives money deposited by the Treasurer of State pursuant to Title 36, section 5284-A, revenues generated in accordance with this section, all revenue from the surcharges collected under section 3933, subsection 4, money transferred from the Animal Welfare Fund in accordance with section 3906-B, subsection 2, money from registration of pet food and commercial feed pursuant to section 714, subsection 2 and any money contributed voluntarily to the fund. All money deposited in the fund and the earnings on that money remain in the fund to be used for the spaying or neutering of companion animals owned by persons meeting income limit standards and for the necessary administrative and personnel costs associated with the management of the fund and may not be deposited in the General Fund or any other fund except as specifically provided by law.
 
SUMMARY
This bill changes the way the fees collected from the registration of pet food and commercial feed is distributed. Currently, 1/2 of the fees collected go to the General Fund and the other 1/2 goes to the Animal Welfare Fund. This bill directs the Commissioner of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources to deposit 1/4 of the fees collected in the General Fund, 1/4 of the fees collected in the Companion Animal Sterilization Fund and 1/2 of the fees collected in the Animal Welfare Fund. This bill also adds language indicating that funds deposited in the Companion Animal Sterilization Fund also come from funds from the registration of pet food and commercial feed pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 7, section 714, subsection 2.