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An Act To Improve Animal Control in Maine
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  7 MRSA §3910-C  is enacted to read:
§ 3910-C. Cat licenses
 
1.  License voluntary.     An owner of a cat may annually voluntarily license the cat pursuant to this section.
 
2.  License requirements.     A cat license under this section may be obtained from a municipal clerk or person authorized to issue a license listed in section 3922, subsection 1. The applicant shall provide the municipal clerk or authorized person:
 
A.  The cat owner's name and address;
 
B.  The breed, sex, color and markings of the cat, if known; and
 
C.  Proof of rabies immunization, if any.
 
3.  Fee.     A cat owner shall pay a $6 fee to the municipal clerk or authorized person for each cat licensed. The municipal clerk or authorized person shall deposit the fee in the municipality's animal welfare account established in accordance with section 3945.
 
4.  Termination of license.     The municipal clerk or authorized person shall terminate a cat license that has not been renewed for 24 months.
 
5.  Rules.     The commissioner may adopt routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A to carry out the purposes of this section.
Sec. 2.  7 MRSA §3950-B  is enacted to read:
§ 3950-B. Issuance of cat licenses
A municipal clerk or a dog recorder in the unorganized territories shall issue a cat license in accordance with section 3910-D. The clerk or dog recorder shall keep a record of all cat licenses issued, including the names of the owners or keepers of cats licensed and the sex, registered numbers and description of those cats except those cats covered by a breeding kennel license as defined in section 3907, subsection 8-A. The clerk or dog recorder shall make a monthly report to the department on a department-approved form of all cat licenses issued and fees received.
Sec. 3. Development of animal licensure incentives. The Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry shall, within existing resources, develop strategies to encourage owners of dogs to license their dogs under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 7, chapter 721 and owners of cats to license their cats under Title 7, section 3910-C. The strategies may include, but are not limited to:
1. An advertising and public outreach campaign promoting licensure and offering incentives donated by participating businesses, including coupons, rewards cards and discounts for goods or services;
2. Development of an exclusive logo or certificate that may be displayed by participating businesses that actively participate in any promotional campaigns developed by the commissioner; and
3. Coordination with municipalities and other entities authorized to license dogs and cats to disseminate information, notices and flyers promoting licensure in municipal offices, on publicly accessible municipal websites and in other public buildings.
 
SUMMARY
This bill establishes a cat license that is optional for cat owners. This bill also directs the Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to develop strategies to encourage owners of dogs and cats to license their pets, including an advertising and public outreach campaign promoting licensure; offering incentives such as coupons and rewards cards donated by participating businesses; developing an exclusive logo or certificate that may be displayed by supporting businesses; and coordinating with municipalities and other entities authorized to license dogs and cats to disseminate information, notices and flyers promoting licensure.