January 11, 2006, Introduced by Senators GARCIA, EMERSON, SWITALSKI, CHERRY, HARDIMAN, JACOBS, TOY, BIRKHOLZ, JOHNSON, CLARKE, GEORGE, JELINEK, PATTERSON, PRUSI, BISHOP, VAN WOERKOM, BARCIA, BRATER, OLSHOVE, THOMAS, LELAND and SCHAUER and referred to the Committee on Finance.
A bill to establish the companion animal welfare fund in the
department of agriculture; to provide for the distribution of money
from the fund; to prescribe the powers and duties of certain
agencies and officials; and to provide for appropriations.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the
"companion animal welfare fund act".
Sec. 2. As used in this act:
(a) "Animal control shelter" and "animal protection shelter"
mean those terms as defined in section 1 of 1969 PA 287, MCL
287.331.
(b) "Companion animal" means a mammal that is kept by an
individual for companionship and pleasure and includes, but is not
limited to, dogs, cats, and horses.
(c) "Department" means the department of agriculture.
(d) "Fund" means the companion animal welfare fund created in
section 3.
Sec. 3. (1) The companion animal welfare fund is created in
the department to provide funds to promote sterilization and
adoption of companion animals and to increase and improve
enforcement of animal anticruelty laws in this state.
(2) The state treasurer shall credit to the fund all amounts
appropriated for this purpose under section 436 of the income tax
act of 1967, 1967 PA 281, MCL 206.436.
(3) The fund shall consist of the money credited to the fund
pursuant to section 436 of the income tax act of 1967, 1967 PA 281,
MCL 206.436, any interest and earnings accruing from the saving and
investment of that money, and other appropriations, money, or other
things of value received by the fund.
(4) The state treasurer shall direct the investment of the
fund.
(5) Money in the fund at the close of the year shall remain in
the fund and shall not lapse to the general fund.
Sec. 4. (1) The money, interest, and earnings of the fund
shall be expended solely for the purposes described in this act.
(2) Money granted or received as a gift or donation to the
fund is available for distribution upon appropriation.
Sec. 5. (1) The department shall solicit proposals for grants
under this act.
(2) The department shall request that the companion animal
advisory committee within the department of agriculture or a
subcommittee of that advisory committee review applications for
grants from the fund and make recommendations to the department for
distribution of the money in the fund.
(3) The department shall approve proposals for funding under
this act. Only the following entities shall receive grants from the
fund:
(a) An animal control shelter or animal protection shelter.
(b) An organization exempt from taxation under section
501(c)(3) of the internal revenue code that is based in this state
and whose primary purpose is to increase the sterilization and
adoption of companion animals.
(4) The department shall make grants for only 1 or more of the
following purposes:
(a) To increase the availability of sterilization or adoption
services for companion animals.
(b) To provide information to the public about the value of
sterilization and adoption of companion animals.
(c) To increase public awareness of state and local animal
anticruelty laws, ordinances, and regulations.
(d) To increase and improve enforcement of state and local
animal anticruelty laws, ordinances, and regulations in this state.
Sec. 6. The money in the fund that is available for
distribution shall be appropriated each year.
Enacting section 1. This act does not take effect unless
Senate Bill No. 952
of the 93rd Legislature is enacted into law.