| This bill also establishes the Companion Animal Overpopulation |
| Committee, a permanent committee whose purpose is to study pet |
| overpopulation in Maine and the relationship of companion animal |
| overpopulation to the spread of rabies and other threats to the |
| public health and make recommendations to reduce the number of |
| stray and homeless cats and dogs in the State and the number of |
| healthy cats and dogs euthanized in animal shelters and to |
| increase compliance with dog licensing and rabies vaccination |
| laws. The committee consists of 4 Legislators, the Commissioner |
| of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources, the Commissioner of |
| Human Services and the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and |
| Wildlife and representatives of veterinarians, humane societies, |
| municipalities, municipal clerks, dog and cat breeders and the |
| public. The committee is required to make an annual report to |
| the Legislature and the Governor. |
