PLEASE NOTE: Legislative Information cannot perform research, provide legal advice, or interpret Maine law. For legal assistance, please contact a qualified attorney.
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 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 Forestry 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.