HB 0211 2004
1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to animal welfare protection programs;
3	creating s. 570.93, F.S.; creating the Florida Animal
4	Friend Council as a direct-support organization of the
5	Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for the
6	purpose of distributing funds received for sale of the
7	Animal Friend license plate; providing for membership and
8	meetings of the council; providing for a grant
9	solicitation and award process; providing purposes for
10	funding; amending ss. 320.08056 and 320.08058, F.S.;
11	creating the Animal Friend license plate; providing for
12	the distribution of annual use fees received from the sale
13	of such plates; providing an effective date.
14
15	WHEREAS, 2,000 dogs and 3,000 cats are born every hour in
16	the United States, and
17	WHEREAS, one unspayed female dog, her mate, and their
18	offspring can produce 67,000 dogs in only 6 years, and
19	WHEREAS, one unspayed female cat, her mate, and their
20	offspring can produce 370,092 cats in just 7 years, and
21	WHEREAS, an estimated 800,000 homeless cats and dogs were
22	euthanized in Florida in the year 2002, NOW, THEREFORE,
23
24	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
25
26	Section 1. Section 570.93, Florida Statutes, is created to
27	read:
28	570.93 Florida Animal Friend Council.--The Florida Animal
29	Friend Council is created as a direct-support organization of
30	the department to provide for distribution of funds received
31	from the sale of the Animal Friend license plate under s.
32	320.08058.
33	(1) The council shall be administered by a board of
34	directors composed of five members as follows:
35	(a) A representative of the Humane Society of the United
36	States.
37	(b) A representative of the Florida Veterinary Medical
38	Association.
39	(c) A representative of the Florida Animal Control
40	Association.
41	(d) One member at large who shall be appointed by the
42	members of the council and shall serve for 2 years. This member
43	shall represent a not-for-profit organization not directly
44	affiliated with any other member of the council. This member
45	shall not apply for a grant during the years in which he or she
46	serves.
47	(e) One member at large who shall be appointed by the
48	Commissioner of Agriculture.
49	(2) Members of the board, unless otherwise specified in
50	subsection (1), shall serve a term of 4 years or until their
51	successors are duly qualified and appointed. Members may serve
52	consecutive terms.
53	(3) The board shall meet at least biannually.
54	(4) All moneys received by the council shall be deposited
55	into an account of the council.
56	(5) The board shall develop and administer a grant
57	solicitation and award process for distribution of funds
58	received for the sale of the Animal Friend license plate
59	pursuant to the provisions of s. 320.08058. Funding may only be
60	granted and used for those proposals which are in compliance
61	with federal, state, and local laws and ordinances. The council
62	shall provide for the distribution of funds which shall be used
63	only for the following purposes:
64	(a) Spay and neuter programs provided by not-for-profit
65	organizations or governmental agencies in Florida that deal with
66	spay or neuter programs.
67	(b) Other emergency animal welfare protection programs or
68	projects, provided that funding for the program or project is
69	approved by a unanimous vote of the council.
70	Section 2. Paragraph (ss) is added to subsection (4) of
71	section 320.08056, Florida Statutes, to read:
72	320.08056 Specialty license plates.--
73	(4) The following license plate annual use fees shall be
74	collected for the appropriate specialty license plates:
75	(ss) Animal Friend license plate, $25.
76	Section 3. Subsection (45) is added to section 320.08058,
77	Florida Statutes, to read:
78	320.08058 Specialty license plates.--
79	(45) ANIMAL FRIEND LICENSE PLATES.--
80	(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 320.08053, the
81	department shall develop an Animal Friend license plate as
82	provided in this section. Animal Friend license plates must bear
83	the colors and design approved by the department. The word
84	"Florida" must appear at the top of the plate, and the words
85	"Animal Friend" must appear at the bottom of the plate.
86	(b)1. The proceeds of the annual use fee shall be
87	distributed to the Florida Animal Friend Council as created in
88	s. 570.93 and used as provided for in that section.
89	2. In the first year the plate is issued, no more than 25
90	percent of the fees collected may be used for administrative
91	costs directly associated with the operation of the Florida
92	Animal Friend Council and marketing and promotion of the Animal
93	Friend concept and license plate.
94	3. In the second and subsequent years the plate is issued,
95	no more than 20 percent of the fees collected may be used for
96	administrative costs directly associated with the operation of
97	the Florida Animal Friend Council and marketing and promotion of
98	the Animal Friend concept and license plate.
99	Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2004.