An Act To Create an Animal Welfare Trailer License Plate ( ~
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 0412
Committee: Transportation
Sponsors: PLOWMAN, DAVIS, GOOLEY, BEAULIEU, CEBRA, COTTA, FOSSEL
Amends: 29-A MRSA §456-G, 29-A MRSA §468

Legislative Document 
No. 412 
S.P. 156 
In Senate, February 10, 2009 
An Act To Create an Animal Welfare Trailer License Plate 
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Reference to the Committee on Transportation suggested and ordered printed. 
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Presented by Senator PLOWMAN of Penobscot. 
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JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
Cosponsored by Senators: DAVIS of Cumberland, GOOLEY of Franklin, Representatives: 
BEAULIEU of Auburn, CEBRA of Naples, COTTA of China, FOSSEL of Alna. 
Printed on recycled pnper 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 29-A MRSA §456-G is enacted to read: 
§456-G. Animal welfare trailer registration plate 
The Secretary of State shall issue animal welfare trailer registration plates for 
trailers beguming November 1, 2009 in accordance with tIllS section. An animal 
welfare trailer registration plate is not required for registration of a trailer but is to 
allow citizens to participate voluntarily to fund a program to benefit the welfare of 
animals. 
1. Animal welfare trailer registration plate. The Secretmy of State, upon 
receiving an application and evidence of payment of the registration fee required by 
sections 511 and 512 and the adnlinistrative fee and voluntary contribution provided 
for in subsection 2, shall issue an animal welfare trailer registration plate to be used 
in lieu of a regular registration plate. The plate must bear identification numbers and 
letters. 
2. Administrative fee ami contribution to special programs. A person may 
contribute to the Animal Welfare Fund by applying for the animal welfare trailer 
registration plate and subnlitting, in addition to the regular registration fee, a SillIl of 
$20 credited as follows: 
A. Nine dollars to the Animal Welfare Fund established in Title 7, section 3906-
B, subsection 2; 
B. Ten dollars to the Highway Fund for adnlinistrative and production costs; and 
C. One dollar to the Specialty License Plate Fund established under section 469. 
3. Design. 
A sponsor must submit a design for the animal welfare trailer 
registration plate to the Secretary of State for approval or modification in accordance 
with section 468. The Secretary of State shall provide the final design to the joint 
standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over animal welfare matters 
prior to manufacture of the plates. 
4. Renewal fee. In addition to the trailer registration fee prescribed by law, the 
renewal contribution for an animal welfare trailer registration plate is $15, whlch 
must be deposited with the Treasurer of State at the time of renewal pursuant to 
sections 511 and 512 and credited as follows: 
A. Nine dollars to the Animal Welfare Fund established in Title 7, section 3906-
B, subsection 2; 
B. Five dollars to the Highway Fund for adnlinistrative and production costs; and 
C. One dollar to the Specialty License Plate Fund established under section 469. 
5. Transfer of fees. On a quarterly basis, the Secretary of State shall transfer the 
revenue from the issuance and renewal of the animal welfare trailer registration plates 
to the Treasurer of State for deposit and crediting pursuant to subsections 2 and 4. 
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Sec. 2. 29-A MRSA §468, sub-§8, as amended by PL 2007, c. 383, §5, is 
further amended to read: 
8. Weight limit. A specialty license plate may be issued for an automobile or 
pickup truck that does not exceed 10,000 pounds. A specialty license plate may be 
issued for a trailer. 
SUMMARY 
Trus bill establishes a specialty license plate for trailers to support animal 
welfare. The registration and renewal fees would support the Animal Welfare Fund, 
wruch helps support the expenses of fumisrung animal license blanks, stickers and 
tags, travel expenses and salaries for animal welfare personnel, costs and payments to 
animal shelters and other expenses necessary in the administration of the laws 
concerning animal welfare.