Louisiana 2014 2014 Regular Session

Louisiana Senate Bill SB131 Chaptered / Bill

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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
Regular Session, 2014	ENROLLED
SENATE BILL NO. 131
BY SENATOR MORRELL 
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
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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
license tax imposed by Article VII, Section 5 of the Constitution of Louisiana.18
C. The department shall collect the monies received from the sale of this19
royalty fee for the prestige license plate and shall forward twenty-five dollars20
immediately upon receipt to the state treasury. After compliance with the21
requirements of Article VII, Section 9(B) of the Constitution of Louisiana relative22
to the Bond Security and Redemption Fund, the monies shall be deposited in the Pet23
Overpopulation Fund, which is hereby created within the state treasury, and shall be24
used solely to provide reduced-cost sterilizations of adult animals as defined in R.S.25
3:2471(2) to indigent pet owners. All unexpended and unencumbered monies26
remaining in the fund at the close of each fiscal year shall remain in the fund. Monies27
ACT No. 284 SB NO. 131	ENROLLED
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
in the fund shall be invested by the state treasurer in the same manner as monies in1
the state general fund. All interest earned from the investment of monies in the fund2
shall be credited to this fund after compliance with Article VII, Section 9(B) of the3
Constitution of Louisiana each quarter shall distribute the royalty fee to the Pet4
Overpopulation Advisory Council.5
D. A Pet Overpopulation Advisory Council is hereby established within the6
office of the governor to establish guidelines for the expenditure of funds credited7
to the Pet Overpopulation Fund and to review and make recommendations on grant8
applications submitted in compliance with Subsection F of this Section. Members9
of the council shall serve on a voluntary basis and shall not receive any10
compensation or reimbursement of expenses. The council shall meet at least twice11
annually, and it shall consist of the following members:12
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E.(1) The Pet Overpopulation Advisory Council shall distribute the14
monies to qualified entities as provided in this Section. The Pet Overpopulation15
Advisory Council may reserve or expend up to five percent of the money16
received pursuant to this Section for the promotion and marketing of the17
prestige license plate and for administrative costs relative to the distribution of18
the monies.19
(2) Any indigent pet owner on public assistance, including but not limited to20
the Food Stamp Program, the Supplemental Security Income Program, the21
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program, the Family Independence22
Temporary Assistance Program, or any other similar public assistance program23
named by the Pet Overpopulation Advisory Council, shall qualify for low-cost24
services.25
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Section 2.  R.S. 47:463.60(H) is hereby repealed.27
Section 3. The Pet Overpopulation Fund in the state treasury shall be abolished as28
of the effective date of this Act and the state treasurer is hereby authorized and directed to29
immediately transfer any monies remaining in the Pet Overpopulation Fund to the Escrow30 SB NO. 131	ENROLLED
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
Fund.  Such monies shall be appropriated or otherwise distributed to the Pet Overpopulation1
Advisory Council as provided in Section 1 of this Act.2
Section 4. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not3
signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature4
by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If5
vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become6
effective on the day following such approval.7
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED: