121st Maine Legislature
		Office of Fiscal and Program Review
		LD 1763
		An Act To Promote Responsible Pet Ownership
		LR 2206(01)
		Fiscal Note for Original Bill
		Sponsor: Speaker Colwell of Gardiner
		Committee: Taxation
		Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
					Projections	Projections
			2003-04	2004-05	2005-06	2006-07
Net Cost (Savings)
	General Fund		$0	$1,680	$12,471	$6,710
Appropriations/Allocations
	General Fund		$0	$1,680	$12,471	$6,710
	Other Special Revenue Funds		$0	$0	$60,000	$60,000
Revenue
	Other Special Revenue Funds		$0	$0	$60,000	$60,000
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	This bill is expected to generate between $41,000 and $61,000 annually for the Companion Animal Sterilization Fund within the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources.  It may also reduce contributions to other dedicated check-off funds.  Maine Revenue Services will require $10,791 in fiscal year 2005-06 and $5,030 in fiscal year 2006-07 for the administrative costs associated with the additional check-off.  This fiscal estimate reflects these amounts as a General Fund cost.  If sufficient revenue is generated from the check-off to support the $5,000 per year transfer to Maine Revenue Services, the General Fund need would be approximately $5,800 in fiscal year 2005-06 and a minimal need in fiscal year 2006-07.
	This bill will require an annual General Fund appropriation to the Legislature of $1,680 beginning in fiscal year 2004-05 to fund the expenses of an on-going study by the Companion Animal Overpopulation Committee.  This bill does not identify who will be responsible for staffing the committee, therefore this estimate does not address staffing.  This estimate reflects only the cost of paying the per diem and expenses for legislative members of the committee.
	The Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources will need Other Special Revenue Funds allocations of $60,000 starting in fiscal year 2005-06.  Although the new Companion Animal Sterilization Program is authorized to begin on January 1, 2005, the department will not receive any of the voluntary check-off revenue until the collection of 2004 tax revenues is completed late in fiscal year 2004-05.