2005 Connecticut Code - Sec. 22-380g. Animal population control program: Animal population control account.

      Sec. 22-380g. Animal population control program: Animal population control account. (a) The Commissioner of Agriculture shall (1) establish an animal population control program to provide for spaying and neutering services to eligible owners of dogs and cats, (2) establish an account to be known as the "animal population control account" that may contain any moneys required by law to be deposited in the account and any balance remaining in said account at the end of any fiscal year shall be carried forward in said account for the fiscal year next succeeding, and (3) create a standard dog licensing form and distribute said form to veterinarians who voluntarily agree to make such forms available for the convenience of dog owners. The commissioner may set aside up to forty thousand dollars for each fiscal year for the purpose of providing assistance to charitable programs for the sterilization and vaccination of feral cats.

      (b) The commissioner may solicit and accept funds from any public or private source of help to carry out the goals of the program, including, but not limited to, the sterilization of feral cats as provided in section 22-339d.

      (c) Any revenue collected pursuant to the provisions of sections 22-380f and 22-380l shall be deposited in the animal population control account. All money in the account shall be used by the commissioner exclusively for the implementation and promotion of the program and for the costs associated with the administration of the program provided not more than one hundred eighty thousand dollars may be expended for administrative costs per year.

      (d) The commissioner may suspend the program at any time that the amount of money available in the account is less than three hundred thousand dollars. The commissioner may reinstate the program when such amount exceeds three hundred thousand dollars.

      (P.A. 92-187, S. 3, 10; P.A. 94-95, S. 19; P.A. 96-243, S. 3; P.A. 01-87, S. 3; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 146(e); P.A. 04-189, S. 1.)

      History: P.A. 94-95 changed name of fund from "Animal Population Control Fund" to "animal population control account"; P.A. 96-243 amended Subsec. (b) to authorize use of the account for sterilization of feral cats as provided in Sec. 22-339d; P.A. 01-87 amended Subsec. (a) to make technical changes and add provisions requiring Commissioner of Agriculture to create a standard dog licensing form available for dog owners and allowing the commissioner to set aside up to forty thousand dollars each fiscal year for providing assistance to charitable programs that sterilize and vaccinate feral cats, and amended Subsec. (d) to change four hundred thousand dollars to three hundred thousand dollars; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6 replaced Commissioner of Agriculture with Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective July 1, 2004; P.A. 04-189 repealed Sec. 146 of June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, thereby reversing the merger of the Departments of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective June 1, 2004.