An Act To Reduce Costs to Businesses by Phasing Out the Pet Food Surcharge
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 1601
Committee Amendment CA_A_H447 (House)
Amends: 7 MRSA §714

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" f\,, to H.P. 1104, L.D. 1601, Bill, "An Act To 
Reduce Costs to Businesses by Phasing Out the Pet Food Surcharge" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'An Act To Increase Funds Deposited into the Companion Animal Sterilization 
Fund through the Pet Food Surcharge' 
Amend the bill in the emergency preamble by striking out the 2nd and 3rd paragraphs 
(page 1, lines 3 to 6 in L.D.) and inserting the following: 
'Whereas, it is imperative to provide additional funds for spaying and neutering 
companion animals owned by low-income residents of Maine; and 
Whereas, the funding source already exists and continues to grow; and 
Whereas, directing additional existing funds to go into the Companion Animal 
Sterilization Fund as soon as possible will help reduce companion animal overpopulation; 
and' 
Amend the bill by striking out all of section 1 and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 7 MRSA §714, sub-§4, as amended by PL 2009, c. 148, §1, is further 
amended to read: 
4. Surcharge on registration of pet food. 
For each product name of pet food 
registered in accordance with subsection 1, the applicant shall pay a $20 surcharge in 
addition to the registration fee, except that a home-based manufacturer of pet food shall 
pay a total annual surcharge of $20. 
The commissioner shall deposit the surcharge 
directly into the Companion Animal Sterilization Fund established under section 3910-B 
as it is received until the total of the surcharges received for that registration year equals 
$100,000. 
The commissioner shall deposit all surcharges received for a registration year in excess of 
$100,000 up to $157,000 into the Animal Welfare Fund established under section 
3906-B, subsection 2. 
The commissioner shall deposit all surcharges received for a 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITIEE AMENDMENT "fi" to H.P. 1104, L.D. 1601 
registration year in excess of $157.000 into the Companion Animal Sterilization Fund 
established under section 3910-B.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill and changes the title. It provides that funds from 
the surcharge on pet food received for a registration year between $100,000 and $157,000 
are deposited into the Animal Welfare Fund by the Commissioner of Agriculture, 
Conservation and Forestly and that funds over $157,000 are deposited into the 
Companion Animal Sterilization Fund in addition to the $100,000 currently provided to 
the fund in statute. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 06/01/17 feac 
LD 1601 
LR2333(02) 
An Act To Reduce Costs to Businesses by Phasing Out the Pet Food Surcharge 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment "fl (JI• 'It/~ 
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
No net revenue change - Other Special Revenue Funds 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Under current law, a $20 annual surcharge is assessed by the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry 
(ACF) on each product name of commercial feed that is pet food or that is pet food from a home-based manufacturer. 
The first $100,000 collected is credited to the Companion Animal Sterilization Fund (CASF) and anything over 
$100,000 is credited to the Animal Welfare Fund (AWF). This bill continues the $20 annual surcharge, but changes 
the distribution by crediting any amounts over $157,000 to the CASF, instead ofto the A WF. Any amounts below 
$157,000 would be distributed the same way as under current statute. This will increase revenue to the CASF and 
decrease revenue by the same amount to the A WF in any years when the total exceeds $157,000. ACF may need to 
adjust allocations to the two funds to acco1mnodate amounts collected in the future. 
LR2333(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1