| | | Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: |
|
| | | Sec. 1. 7 MRSA §3906-B, sub-§13, as enacted by PL 1995, c. 502, Pt. C, | | §12, is repealed. |
|
| | | Sec. 2. 7 MRSA §3906-B, sub-§15, as amended by PL 2001, c. 399, §2, is | | further amended to read: |
|
| | | 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. 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 an account of | deposits into and payments from the spaying and neutering fund | | Companion Animal Sterilization Fund established in section 3910- | | B. |
|
| | | Sec. 3. 7 MRSA §3907, sub-§11-A is enacted to read: |
|
| | | 11-A.__Companion animal.__"Companion animal" means a cat or | | dog. |
|
| | | Sec. 4. 7 MRSA §3907, sub-§21-A is enacted to read: |
|
| | | 21-A.__Participating veterinarian.__"Participating | | veterinarian" means a veterinarian participating in the Companion | | Animal Sterilization Program. |
|
| | | Sec. 5. 7 MRSA §§3910-B and 3910-C are enacted to read: |
|
| | | §3910-B.__Companion Animal Sterilization Program |
|
| | | 1.__Program established; purpose; annual report.__The | | commissioner shall establish and administer the Companion Animal | | Sterilization Program, referred to in this section as "the | | program," in accordance with this section.__The purpose of the | | program is to reduce the population of unwanted, stray and | | homeless dogs and cats by encouraging the owners of companion | | animals to have them permanently reproductively sterilized, | | thereby reducing potential threats to public health and safety | | from mid-Atlantic rabies and other sources.__The program is | | funded by the Companion Animal Sterilization Fund established in | | subsection 2.__The commissioner shall report annually by | | September 1st to the Governor and the Legislature regarding the | | progress of the program and the status of the fund. |
|
| | | 2.__Companion Animal Sterilization Fund.__There is established | | the Companion Animal Sterilization Fund, referred to in this | | section as "the fund."__The fund receives money deposited by the | | Treasurer of State pursuant to Title 36, section 5284-A, |
|
|
