BILL AS INTRODUCED S.108
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VT LEG #381098 v.1
S.108 1
Introduced by Senators Clarkson, Major and White 2
Referred to Committee on 3
Date: 4
Subject: Human services; Office of Economic Opportunity; domestic pet or 5
wolf-hybrid control; spaying and neutering; license fee surcharge; co-6
payments 7
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to increase the 8
dog licensure fee surcharge that funds the Dog, Cat, and Wolf-Hybrid Spaying 9
and Neutering Program. It further proposes to transfer the related rule from the 10
Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets to the Department for Children and 11
Families’ Office of Economic Opportunity. The bill also requires the Office to 12
make miscellaneous amendments to the transferred rule. 13
An act relating to the Dog, Cat, and Wolf-Hybrid Spaying and Neutering 14
Program 15
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 16
Sec. 1. 20 V.S.A. § 3581 is amended to read: 17
§ 3581. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS 18
* * * 19 BILL AS INTRODUCED S.108
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(c)(1) A mandatory license fee surcharge of $4.00 $6.00 per license shall 1
be collected by each city, town, or village for the purpose of funding the dog, 2
cat, and wolf-hybrid spaying and neutering program Dog, Cat, and Wolf-3
Hybrid Spaying and Neutering Program established in chapter 193, subchapter 4
6 of this title chapter. 5
(2) An optional license fee surcharge of up to $10.00 per license is to be 6
implemented by the legislative body of a city, town, or village that has 7
established an animal and rabies control program for the sole purpose of 8
funding the rabies control program. 9
(3) The license fee surcharges in this subsection shall not be considered 10
part of the license fee for purposes of calculating a penalty for late payment. 11
* * * 12
Sec. 2. DOG, CAT, AND WOLF-HYBRID SPAYING AND NEUTERING 13
PROGRAM; CO-PAYMENT 14
A pet owner utilizing the Dog, Cat, and Wolf-Hybrid Spaying and 15
Neutering Program established in 20 V.S.A. chapter 193, subchapter 6 shall 16
provide a minimum co-payment of $50.00 per companion animal. 17
Sec. 3. TRANSFER OF RULEMAKING AUTHORITY; AMENDMENT 18
(a) The statutory authority to adopt the rule on Dog, Cat, and Wolf-Hybrid 19
Spaying and Neutering Program and Fund (CVR 20-010-011) by the Agency 20
of Agriculture, Food and Markets pursuant to 3 V.S.A. chapter 25 is 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED S.108
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VT LEG #381098 v.1
transferred to the Department for Children and Families’ Office of Economic 1
Opportunity. This rule shall be deemed a rule of the Department for Children 2
and Families’ Office of Economic Opportunity and remain in effect until 3
amended or repealed by the Department for Children and Families’ Office of 4
Economic Opportunity pursuant to 3 V.S.A. chapter 25. The Department for 5
Children and Families’ Office of Economic Opportunity shall provide notice of 6
the transfer to the Secretary of State and the Legislative Committee on 7
Administrative Rules in accordance with 3 V.S.A. § 848(d)(2). 8
(b) The Department for Children and Families’ Office of Economic 9
Opportunity shall amend the rule on the Dog, Cat, and Wolf-Hybrid Spaying 10
and Neutering Program and Fund (CVR 20-010-011) pursuant to 3 V.S.A. 11
chapter 25 to: 12
(1) reflect the pet owner co-payment established in Sec. 2 of this act; 13
(2) include “rabbit” in the definition of “companion animal”; 14
(3) increase to five the number of companion animals per owner that 15
may be served by the Program; 16
(4) ensure veterinarians’ predetermined fee schedule is kept confidential 17
from the public; 18
(5) ensure that veterinarians’ predetermined fee schedule covers 19
distemper and rabies vaccinations; 20 BILL AS INTRODUCED S.108
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(6) increase to eight weeks the length of time that a pet owner voucher is 1
valid; 2
(7) specify that veterinarians shall be reimbursed within 30 days 3
following the Office of Economic Opportunity’s receiving an invoice; and 4
(8) require that the names of participating veterinarians are posted on the 5
Program’s website. 6
Sec. 4. EFFECTIVE DATE 7
This act shall take effect on July 1, 2025. 8