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"I'll tell you how the sun rose - one ribbon at a time."

-- Emily Dickinson

Purchase the plates by using this application form

Collaborate and communicate with others working on AFLP around the nation and in Ohio. Also review our "making your state Animal Friendly" section.

Slogan:

Artist: Nationally syndicated cartoonist Jenny Campbell

Fee: $25 in addition to regular fees

Amount to Spay-Neuter: $15

Fund: Ohio Pet Fund

The following seven members to be apointed by the Ohio Pet Fund:

1. One member who represents an animal control facility or has been appointed an agent of a humane society under Chapter 1717. of the Revised Code;
2. One member of the Ohio veterinary medical association who is a resident of this state;
3. One member of the general public;
4. One member who represents an animal shelter or other animal facility located in this state;
5. One member who represents a foster pet organization or an organization that is involved with the sterilization of dogs and cats that does not operate an animal shelter;
6. One member who is a breeder of dogs or cats and is a member in good standing with a national breeders club or association;
7. One member from the Ohio pet fund.

The Ohio Pet Fund does not anticipate funding until late 2005 or early 2006. Once enough money is raised, The Fund will offer a grant application to animal shelters, nonprofit humane societies, rescue organizations and veterinary associations.  Through these organizations, funding will also be able to help individuals who meet the qualifying guidelines for having their pets spayed or neutered.

Senate Bill

To amend section 4501.21 and to enact sections 955.201, 955.202, and 4503.551 of the Revised Code to create the "Pets" license plate, the Pets Program Funding Board, and the Pet Support Fund and to provide that moneys in the fund be used to support programs for the sterilization of dogs and cats, and for educational programs concerning the proper veterinary care of those animals.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

Section 1.  That section 4501.21 be amended and sections 955.201, 955.202, and 4503.551 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:

Sec. 955.201. (A) As used in this section and in section 955.202 of the Revised Code, " Ohio pet fund" means a nonprofit corporation organized by that name under Chapter 1702. of the Revised Code that consists of humane societies, veterinarians, animal shelters, companion animal breeders, dog wardens, and similar individuals and entities.

(B) The Ohio pet fund shall do all of the following:

(1) Establish eligibility criteria for organizations that may receive financial assistance from the pets program funding board created in section 955.202 of the Revised Code. Those organizations may include any of the following:

(a) An animal shelter as defined in section 4729.01 of the Revised Code;

(b) A local nonprofit veterinary association that operates a program for the sterilization of dogs and cats;

(c) A charitable organization that is exempt from federal income taxation under subsection 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and the primary purpose of which is to support programs for the sterilization of dogs and cats and educational programs concerning the proper veterinary care of those animals.

(2) Establish procedures for applying for financial assistance from the pets program funding board. Application procedures shall require eligible organizations to submit detailed proposals that outline the intended uses of the moneys sought.

(3) Establish eligibility criteria for sterilization and educational programs for which moneys from the pets program funding board may be used and, consistent with division (C) of this section, establish eligibility criteria for individuals who seek sterilization for their dogs and cats from eligible organizations;

(4) Establish procedures for the disbursement of moneys the pets program funding board receives from license plate contributions pursuant to division (C) of section 4503.551 of the Revised Code;

(5) Advertise or otherwise provide notification of the availability of financial assistance from the pets program funding board for eligible organizations;

(6) Design markings to be inscribed on "pets" license plates under section 4503.551 of the Revised Code.

(C)(1) The owner of a dog or cat is eligible for dog or cat sterilization services from an eligible organization when those services are subsidized in whole or in part by money from the pets program funding board if any of the following applies:

(a) The income of the owner's family does not exceed one hundred fifty per cent of the federal poverty guideline.

(b) The owner, or any member of the owner's family who resides with the owner, is a recipient or beneficiary of one of the following government assistance programs:

(i) Low-income housing assistance under the "United States Housing Act of 1937," 42 U.S.C.A. 1437f, as amended, known as the federal section 8 housing program;

(ii) The Ohio works first program established by Chapter 5107. of the Revised Code;

(iii) Title XIX of the "Social Security Act," 49 Stat. 620 (1935), 42 U.S.C.A. 301, as amended, known as the medical assistance program or medicaid, provided by the department of job and family services under Chapter 5111. of the Revised Code;

(iv) A program or law administered by the United States department of veterans' affairs or veterans' administration for any service-connected disability;

(v) The food stamp program established under the "Food Stamp Act of 1977," 91 Stat. 958, 7 U.S.C.A. 2011, as amended, administered by the department of job and family services under section 5101.54 of the Revised Code;

(vi) The "special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children" established under the "Child Nutrition Act of 1966," 80 Stat. 885, 42 U.S.C. 1786, as amended, administered by the department of health under section 3701.132 of the Revised Code;

(vii) Supplemental security income under Title XVI of the "Social Security Act," 86 Stat. 1475 (1972), 42 U.S.C.A. 1383, as amended;

(viii) Social security disability insurance benefits provided under Title II of the "Social Security Act," 49 Stat. 620 (1935), 42 U.S.C.A. 401, as amended.

(c) The owner of the dog or cat submits to the eligible organization operating the sterilization program either of the following:

(i) A certificate of adoption showing that the dog or cat was adopted from a licensed animal shelter, a municipal, county, or regional pound, or a holding and impoundment facility that contracts with a municipal corporation;

(ii) A certificate of adoption showing that the dog or cat was adopted through a nonprofit corporation operating an animal adoption referral service whose holding facility, if any, is licensed in accordance with state law or a municipal ordinance.

(2) The Ohio pet fund shall determine the type of documentary evidence that must be presented by the owner of a dog or cat to show that the income of the owner's family does not exceed one hundred fifty per cent of the federal poverty guideline or that the owner is eligible under division (C)(1)(b) of this section.

(D) As used in division (C) of this section, "federal poverty guideline" means the official poverty guideline as revised annually by the United States department of health and human services in accordance with section 673(2) of the "Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981," 95 Stat. 511, 42 U.S.C.A. 9902, as amended, for a family size equal to the size of the family of the person whose income is being determined.

Sec. 955.202. (A) There is hereby created the pets program funding board consisting of the following seven members to be appointed by the Ohio pet fund:

(1) One member who represents an animal control facility or has been appointed an agent of a humane society under Chapter 1717. of the Revised Code;

(2) One member of the Ohio veterinary medical association who is a resident of this state;

(3) One member of the general public;

(4) One member who represents an animal shelter or other animal facility located in this state;

(5) One member who represents a foster pet organization or an organization that is involved with the sterilization of dogs and cats that does not operate an animal shelter;

(6) One member who is a breeder of dogs or cats and is a member in good standing with a national breeders club or association;

(7) One member from the Ohio pet fund.

(B) Of the initial appointees to the board, two members' terms shall expire on the thirty-first day of January of the first even-numbered year following appointment, and five members' terms shall expire on the thirty-first day of January of the second odd-numbered year following appointment. Thereafter, terms of office for all members shall be two years. Vacancies on the board shall be filled in the manner provided for original appointments. Members of the board shall not receive compensation or reimbursement for expenses.

Members of the board shall elect a chairperson and shall establish rules for the meetings and procedures of the board. The board shall meet at least four times per year unless determined otherwise by a majority vote of the board members. If an eligible organization that is applying for financial assistance from the license plate contribution fund created in section 4501.21 of the Revised Code is represented by a member on the board, that member shall not participate in the decision regarding the approval or disapproval of that application. A quorum consists of five board members, except that if one member is not participating in a decision regarding an application, a quorum consists of three board members.

(C) The board shall disburse moneys from the license plate contribution fund for the purpose of supporting programs for the sterilization of dogs and cats and educational programs concerning the proper veterinary care of those animals. Moneys shall be disbursed to organizations meeting eligibility requirements established under division (B)(1) of section 955.201 of the Revised Code in accordance with criteria and procedures established under divisions (B)(2) to (4) of that section. No moneys shall be disbursed from the license plate contribution fund to the pets program funding board until the amount in the fund that is attributable to contributions paid by motor vehicle registration applicants pursuant to section 4503.551 of the Revised Code and to money from any other source, including donations, gifts, and grants, that is designated by the source to be paid to the pets program funding board, equals at least twenty-five thousand dollars or until two years after the effective date of this section, whichever occurs first.

Sec. 4501.21.  (A) There is hereby created in the state treasury the license plate contribution fund. The fund shall consist of all contributions paid by motor vehicle registrants and collected by the registrar of motor vehicles pursuant to sections 4503.50, 4503.51, 4503.55, 4503.551, 4503.561, 4503.591, 4503.67, 4503.68, 4503.69, 4503.71, 4503.711, 4503.72, 4503.73, and 4503.75 of the Revised Code.

(B) The registrar shall disburse the contributions the registrar collects in the fund as follows:

(1) The registrar shall pay the contributions the registrar receives pursuant to section 4503.50 of the Revised Code to the future farmers of America foundation, which shall deposit the contributions into its general account to be used for educational and scholarship purposes of the future farmers of America foundation.

(2) The registrar shall pay each contribution the registrar receives pursuant to section 4503.51 of the Revised Code to the university or college whose name or marking or design appears on collegiate license plates that are issued to a person under that section. A university or college that receives contributions from the fund shall deposit the contributions into its general scholarship fund.

(3) The registrar shall pay the contributions the registrar receives pursuant to section 4503.55 of the Revised Code to the pro football hall of fame, which shall deposit the contributions into a special bank account that it establishes and which shall be separate and distinct from any other account the pro football hall of fame maintains, to be used exclusively for the purpose of promoting the pro football hall of fame as a travel destination.

(4) The registrar shall pay to the pets program funding board created by section 955.202 of the Revised Code the contributions the registrar receives pursuant to section 4503.551 of the Revised Code and any other money from any other source, including donations, gifts, and grants, that is designated by the source to be paid to the pets program funding board. The board shall use the moneys it receives under this section only to support programs for the sterilization of dogs and cats and for educational programs concerning the proper veterinary care of those animals.

(5) The registrar shall pay the contributions the registrar receives pursuant to section 4503.561 of the Revised Code to the state of Ohio chapter of ducks unlimited, inc., which shall deposit the contributions into a special bank account that it establishes. The special bank account shall be separate and distinct from any other account the state of Ohio chapter of ducks unlimited, inc., maintains and shall be used exclusively for the purpose of protecting, enhancing, restoring, and managing wetlands and conserving wildlife habitat. The state of Ohio chapter of ducks unlimited, inc., annually shall notify the registrar in writing of the name, address, and account to which payments are to be made under division (B)(4)(5) of this section.

(5)(6) The registrar shall pay to a sports commission created pursuant to section 4503.591 of the Revised Code each contribution the registrar receives under section 4503.591 of the Revised Code that an applicant pays to obtain license plates that bear the logo of a professional sports team located in the county of that sports commission and that is participating in the license plate program established by section 4503.591 of the Revised Code, irrespective of the county of residence of an applicant.

(6)(7) The registrar shall pay the contributions the registrar receives pursuant to section 4503.67 of the Revised Code to the Dan Beard council of the boy scouts of America. The council shall distribute all contributions in an equitable manner throughout the state to regional councils of the boy scouts.

(7)(8) The registrar shall pay the contributions the registrar receives pursuant to section 4503.68 of the Revised Code to the great river council of the girl scouts of the United States of America. The council shall distribute all contributions in an equitable manner throughout the state to regional councils of the girl scouts.

(8)(9) The registrar shall pay the contributions the registrar receives pursuant to section 4503.69 of the Revised Code to the Dan Beard council of the boy scouts of America. The council shall distribute all contributions in an equitable manner throughout the state to regional councils of the boy scouts.

(9)(10) The registrar shall pay the contributions the registrar receives pursuant to section 4503.71 of the Revised Code to the fraternal order of police of Ohio, incorporated, which shall deposit the fees into its general account to be used for purposes of the fraternal order of police of Ohio, incorporated.

(10)(11) The registrar shall pay the contributions the registrar receives pursuant to section 4503.711 of the Revised Code to the fraternal order of police of Ohio, incorporated, which shall deposit the contributions into an account that it creates to be used for the purpose of advancing and protecting the law enforcement profession, promoting improved law enforcement methods, and teaching respect for law and order.

(11)(12) The registrar shall pay the contributions the registrar receives pursuant to section 4503.72 of the Revised Code to the organization known on the effective date of this section March 31, 2003, as the Ohio CASA/GAL association, a private, nonprofit corporation organized under Chapter 1702. of the Revised Code. The Ohio CASA/GAL association shall use these contributions to pay the expenses it incurs in administering a program to secure the proper representation in the courts of this state of abused, neglected, and dependent children, and for the training and supervision of persons participating in that program.

(12)(13) The registrar shall pay the contributions the registrar receives pursuant to section 4503.73 of the Revised Code to Wright B. Flyer, incorporated, which shall deposit the contributions into its general account to be used for purposes of Wright B. Flyer, incorporated.

(13)(14) The registrar shall pay the contributions the registrar receives pursuant to section 4503.75 of the Revised Code to the rotary foundation, located on the effective date of this section March 31, 2003, in Evanston, Illinois, to be placed in a fund known as the permanent fund and used to endow educational and humanitarian programs of the rotary foundation.

(C) All investment earnings of the license plate contribution fund shall be credited to the fund. Not later than the first day of May of every year, the registrar shall distribute to each entity described in divisions (B)(1) to (13)(14) of this section the investment income the fund earned the previous calendar year. The amount of such a distribution paid to an entity shall be proportionate to the amount of money the entity received from the fund during the previous calendar year.

Sec. 4503.551.  (A) The owner or lessee of any passenger car, noncommercial motor vehicle, motor home, or other vehicle of a class approved by the registrar of motor vehicles may apply to the registrar for the registration of the vehicle and issuance of "pets" license plates. The application for "pets" license plates may be combined with a request for a special reserved license plate under section 4503.40 or 4503.42 of the Revised Code. Upon receipt of the completed application and compliance with division (B) of this section, the registrar shall issue to the applicant the appropriate vehicle registration and a set of "pets" license plates with a validation sticker or a validation sticker alone when required by section 4503.191 of the Revised Code.

In addition to the letters and numbers ordinarily inscribed thereon, "pets" license plates shall be inscribed with words and markings designed by the Ohio pet fund, as defined in section 955.201 of the Revised Code, and approved by the registrar. "Pets" license plates shall bear county identification stickers that identify the county of registration by name or number.

(B) "Pets" license plates and validation stickers shall be issued upon payment of the regular license tax as prescribed under section 4503.04 of the Revised Code, a fee of ten dollars for the purpose of compensating the bureau of motor vehicles for additional services required in the issuing of "pets" license plates, any applicable motor vehicle tax levied under Chapter 4504. of the Revised Code, any applicable fee prescribed by section 4503.40 or 4503.42 of the Revised Code, the contribution specified under division (C) of this section, and compliance with all other applicable laws relating to the registration of motor vehicles.

(C) For each application for registration and registration renewal received under this section, the registrar shall collect a contribution of an amount not to exceed forty dollars as determined by the Ohio pet fund. The registrar shall transmit this contribution to the treasurer of state for deposit in the license plate contribution fund created in section 4501.21 of the Revised Code.

(D) The registrar shall deposit the additional fee of ten dollars specified in division (B) of this section that the applicant for registration voluntarily pays for the purpose of compensating the bureau for the additional services required in the issuing of the applicant's "pets" license plates in the state bureau of motor vehicles fund created in section 4501.25 of the Revised Code.

Section 2.  That existing section 4501.21 of the Revised Code is hereby repealed.