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words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
Regular Session, 2014
SENATE BILL NO. 131
BY SENATOR MORRELL
FEES/LICENSES/PERMITS. Provides with respect to "Animal Friendly" prestige license
plates. (gov sig)
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 47:463.60(B), (C), (D)(introductory paragraph), and (E), and to2
repeal R.S. 47:463.60(H), relative to special prestige license plates; to provide with3
respect to the "Animal Friendly" prestige license plate; to provide for a royalty fee;4
to abolish the Pet Overpopulation Fund; to provide for the transfer of any remaining5
monies in the Pet Overpopulation Fund; to provide for an effective date; and to6
provide for related matters.7
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:8
Section 1. R.S. 47:463.60(B), (C), (D)(introductory paragraph), and (E) are hereby9
amended and reenacted to read as follows:10
ยง463.60. Special prestige license plates; "Animal Friendly" prestige license plate;11
animal population control; Pet Overpopulation Fund12
* * *13
B. The charge annual fee for this prestige license plate shall be a royalty fee14
of twenty-five dollars to be distributed as provided in this Section and a handling fee15
of three dollars and fifty cents to be retained by the department to offset a portion of16
administrative costs. These charges shall be in addition to the standard motor vehicle17 SB NO. 131
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words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
license tax imposed by Article VII, Section 5 of the Constitution of Louisiana.1
C. The department shall collect the monies received from the sale of this2
royalty fee for the prestige license plate and shall forward twenty-five dollars3
immediately upon receipt to the state treasury. After compliance with the4
requirements of Article VII, Section 9(B) of the Constitution of Louisiana relative5
to the Bond Security and Redemption Fund, the monies shall be deposited in the Pet6
Overpopulation Fund, which is hereby created within the state treasury, and shall be7
used solely to provide reduced-cost sterilizations of adult animals as defined in R.S.8
3:2471(2) to indigent pet owners. All unexpended and unencumbered monies9
remaining in the fund at the close of each fiscal year shall remain in the fund. Monies10
in the fund shall be invested by the state treasurer in the same manner as monies in11
the state general fund. All interest earned from the investment of monies in the fund12
shall be credited to this fund after compliance with Article VII, Section 9(B) of the13
Constitution of Louisiana each quarter shall distribute the royalty fee to the Pet14
Overpopulation Advisory Council.15
D. A Pet Overpopulation Advisory Council is hereby established within the16
office of the governor to establish guidelines for the expenditure of funds credited17
to the Pet Overpopulation Fund and to review and make recommendations on grant18
applications submitted in compliance with Subsection F of this Section. Members19
of the council shall serve on a voluntary basis and shall not receive any20
compensation or reimbursement of expenses. The council shall meet at least twice21
annually, and it shall consist of the following members:22
* * *23
E.(1) The Pet Overpopulation Advisory Council shall distribute the24
monies to qualified entities as provided in this Section. The Pet Overpopulation25
Advisory Council may reserve or expend up to five percent of the money26
received pursuant to this Section for the promotion and marketing of the27
prestige license plate and for administrative costs relative to the distribution of28
the monies.29 SB NO. 131
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words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
(2) Any indigent pet owner on public assistance, including but not limited to1
the Food Stamp Program, the Supplemental Security Income Program, the2
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program, the Family Independence3
Temporary Assistance Program, or any other similar public assistance program4
named by the Pet Overpopulation Advisory Council, shall qualify for low-cost5
services.6
* * *7
Section 2 . R.S. 47:463.60(H) is hereby repealed.8
Section 3. The Pet Overpopulation Fund in the state treasury shall be abolished as9
of the effective date of this Act and the state treasurer is hereby authorized and directed to10
immediately transfer any monies remaining in the Pet Overpopulation Fund to the Escrow11
Fund. Such monies shall be appropriated or otherwise distributed to the Pet Overpopulation12
Advisory Council as provided in Section 1 of this Act.13
Section 4. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not14
signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature15
by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If16
vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become17
effective on the day following such approval.18
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Jay R. Lueckel.
DIGEST
Morrell (SB 131)
Present law provides for special prestige license plates for automobiles, including the
"Animal Friendly" prestige license plate.
Present law provides that twenty-five dollars shall be charged for the Animal Friendly
prestige license plate and such avails from the charge on this prestige license plate shall be
deposited into the Pet Overpopulation Fund, which is to be used to provide reduced-cost
sterilization of adult animals to indigent pet owners. Present law also provides for a three
dollar and fifty cent handling fee for administrative costs of the Department of Public Safety,
Office of Motor Vehicles for the special prestige license plate.
Proposed law retains present law relative to the Animal Friendly prestige license plate.
Proposed law changes the $25 charge to a $25 royalty fee and distributes the avails of the
royalty fee each quarter to the Pet Overpopulation Advisory Council, which is created under
present law in the office of the governor. Proposed law retains the Pet Overpopulation
Advisory Council and also retains the handling fee for administrative costs in the Office of SB NO. 131
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Motor Vehicles.
Proposed law provides that the Pet Overpopulation Advisory Council shall distribute the
monies to qualified entities as provided by law.
Proposed law provides that the Pet Overpopulation Advisory Council may reserve or expend
up to five percent of the money received for the promotion and marketing of the prestige
license plate and for administrative costs relative to the distribution of the monies.
Proposed law retains present law that states any indigent pet owner on public assistance shall
qualify for low-cost services for animal population control.
Proposed law abolishes the Pet Overpopulation Fund upon the effective date of the proposed
law and provides that any monies remaining in the fund shall be transferred to the Escrow
Fund. Such monies shall be appropriated or otherwise distributed to the Pet Overpopulation
Advisory Council.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends 47:463.60(B), (C), (D)(intro para), and (E) and repeals R.S. 47:463.60(H))