An Act To Promote Responsible Pet Ownership LR 2206(02)
Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 1763
Committee Amendment CA_A_H727 (House)
Amends: 36 MRSA §5284-A

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "fi" to H.P. 1285, L.D. 1763, Bill, "An 
Act To Promote Responsible Pet Ownership" 
Amend 
the bill 
in 
section 
subsection 15 (page 1, lines 9 to 16 
its place the following: 
by 
striking 
out 
all 
of 
in L. D.) and inserting in 
'15. 
Annual 
report. 
The 
commissioner shall report 
the 
activities of the commissioner annually by March 1st to the joint 
standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over 
agricultural matters 
and the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature 
having 
jurisdiction over 
taxation matters. 
This 
report must include a 
summary of cases of cruelty to animals 
investigated by the commissioner, a summary of final dispositions 
of those cases and, with respect to companion animals, a report 
of 
the 
number 
of 
animal 
shelter 
intakes, 
the 
number 
of 
sterilizations and the number of euthanizations and an account of 
deposits into and payments from the spayi-sEj--ane--Be-I*E-e-F-ing--£l:l.HEI 
Companion 
Animal 
Sterilization 
Fund 
established 
in 
section 
3910-B.' 
Further amend the bill by striking out all of sections 4 to 
and inserting in their place the following: 
'Sec. 4. 7 MRS A §3910-B is enacted to read: 
§3910-B. 
Companion Animal Sterilization Fund 
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 
Page l-LR2206(2) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
~~e:.. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT if" to H.P. 1285, L.D. 1763 
deposited by the Treasurer of State pursuant to Title 36, section 
5284-A, revenues generated in accordance with this section 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. 
2. 
Subsidies: development of standards. 
The commissioner 
shall 
develop 
procedures 
and eligibility 
standards 
for 
the 
awarding of subsidies to low-income persons for the spaying or 
neuter ing of those persons' companion animals. 
Procedures and 
eligibility standards must 
be 
developed in consultation with 
veterinarians and representatives of humane societies and animal 
shelters. 
3. 
Fund-raising. 
The commissioner or the commissioner's 
authorized agent may 
provide for 
the creation, 
reproduction, 
sale, licensing and distribution and other disposal of any art or 
other products for the purpose of generating revenues for the 
fund. 
All money generated from the sale of these items must be 
deposited into the fund. 
Sec. 5. 36 MRSA §5284-A is enacted to read: 
§5284-A. 
Companion animal sterilization YOlunta~ cbeckoff 
1. 
Companion Animal Sterilization Fund. 
Taxpayers 
who, 
when filing their return, are entitled to a refund under this 
Part may designate that a part of that refund be paid into the 
Companion 
Animal 
Sterilization Fund 
established 
in Title 
7, 
section 3910-B. 
A taxpayer who is not entitled to a refund under 
this Part may contribute to the Companion Animal Sterilization 
Fund by including with the taxpayer's return sufficient funds to 
make the contribution. 
Each individual income tax return form 
must contain a designation in substantially the following form: 
"Contribution to Companion Animal Sterilization Fund: ( ) $5, ( ) 
$10, ( ) $25 or ( ) Other $ .... " 
2. 
Contributions credited to Companion Animal Sterilization 
Fund. 
The State Tax Assessor shall determine annually the total 
amount 
contributed pursuant to 
subsection 
1. 
Prior 
to 
the 
beginning of the next year, the assessor shall deduct the cost of 
administering the Companion Animal Sterilization Fund checkoff, 
but not exceeding $5,000 annually, and report the remainder to 
the Treasurer of State, 
who 
shall credit the 
amount to the 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
~~. 
~"''\> 
~ 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ,n" to H.P. 1285, L.D. 1763 
Companion Animal Sterilization Fund, 
which is established in 
Title 7, section 3910-B. 
3. 
Effective date. 
This section applies 
to 
tax years 
beginning on and after January 1, 2004. 
Sec. 
6. 
Appropriations 
and 
allocations. 
The 
following 
appropriations and allocations are made. 
ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL SERVICES, 
DEPARTMENT OF 
Maine Revenue Services 0002 
Initiative: 
associated 
checkoff. 
Provides 
funds 
with 
the 
Companion 
General Fund 
All Other 
General Fund Total 
for 
the 
Animal 
ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL SERVICES, 
DEPARTMENT OF 
DEPARTMENT TOTALS 
GENERAL FUND 
DEPARTMENT TOTAL -
ALL FUNDS 
AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND RURAL RESOURCES, 
DEPARTMENT OF 
Animal Welfare 0946 
administrative 
costs 
Sterilization voluntary 
2003-04 
$0 
$0 
2003-04 
$0 
$0 
2004-05 
$10,791 
$10,791 
2004-05 
$10,191 
$10,191 
Initiative: 
Allocates funds received from the Companion Animal 
Sterilization voluntary checkoff to create one 1/2-time Planning 
and 
Research 
Assistant 
position 
and 
provide 
for 
necessary 
operating costs. 
Other Special Revenue Funds 
Positions - Legislative Count 
Personal Services 
All Other 
Other Special Revenue Funds Total 
2003-04 
(0.000) 
$0 
o 
$0 
2004-05 
(0.500) 
$3,761 
6,439 
$10,200 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
.,;(k,.;. 
(:..-, 
~~"" 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT .. /J., to H.P. 1285, L.D. 1763 
AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND RURAL RESOURCES, 
DEPARTMERT OF 
DEPARTMERT 'l'OTALS 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
DEPARTMERT 'l'OTAL -
ALL FUNDS 
SECTION 'l'OTALS 
GENERAL FUND 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
SECTION 'l'OTAL -
ALL FUNDS 
2003-04 
$0 
$0 
2003-04 
$0 
o 
$0 
2004-05 
$10,200 
$10,200 
2004-05 
$10,791 
10,200 
$20,991' 
Further amend the bill by striking out all of section 8. 
SUMMARY 
This 
amendment 
strikes 
portions 
of 
the 
bill 
providing 
statutory details for the establishment of a 
companion animal 
sterilization 
program. 
The 
amendment 
retains 
and 
revises 
provisions establishing the Companion Animal Sterilization Fund 
to provide funding for subsidies to persons with low incomes to 
assist them in the spaying or neutering of companion animals. 
The fund is administered by the Commissioner of Agriculture, Food 
and Rural Resources, who is required to establish the procedures 
and eligibility criteria in consultation with veterinarians and 
representatives of humane societies and animal shelters. 
The 
primary source of funding for the fund is a voluntary checkoff on 
the individual income tax form that allows a taxpayer to donate a 
portion of a tax refund or make a donation with the tax return. 
The income tax checkoff is effective for tax years beginning 
January 1, 
2004. 
The amendment also requires a report to the 
joint standing committees of the Legislature having jurisdiction 
over 
agricultural 
matters 
and 
taxation 
matters 
regarding 
statistics necessary to evaluate the impact of the program. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Net Cost (Savings) 
General Fund 
\ppropriations/ Allocations 
General Fund 
Other Special Revenue Funds 
Revenue 
Other Special Revenue Funds 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Approved: 02/24/04 frac. 
Office of Fiscal and Program Review 
LD 1763 
An Act To Promote Responsible Pet Ownership 
LR 2206(02) 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment" " 
Committee: Taxation 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
2003-04 
$0 
$0 
$0 
$0 
2004-05 
$10,791 
$10,791 
$10,200 
$60,000 
Projections 
2005-06 
$5,030 
$5,030 
$60,000 
$60,000 
Projectio 
2006-
$5,lL 
$5,lL 
$60,OC 
$60,0( 
This bill is expected to generate between $41,000 and $61,000 annually for the Companion Animal Sterilization Fm 
within the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources. It may also reduce contributions to other dedicate 
check-off funds. Maine Revenue Services will require $10,791 in fiscal year 2004-05 for the administrative costs 
associated with the additional check-off. This fiscal estimate reflects these amounts as a General Fund cost. If 
sufficient revenue is generated from the check-offto support the $5,000 per year transfer to Maine Revenue Service 
the General Fund need would be minimal in fiscal year 2005-06 and beyond. 
The Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources will need an Other Special Revenue Funds allocation of 
$10,200 for fiscal year 2004-05 and annual allocations of $60,000 starting in fiscal year 2005-06. Although the ne", 
Companion Animal Sterilization Program is authorized to begin for the tax year starting on January 1,2004, the 
department will not receive any of the voluntary check-off revenue until the collection of 2004 tax revenues is 
completed late in fiscal year 2004-05. 
LR2206(2) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1