SB 673: Pet Lover’s specialized license plates.

Existing law establishes a specialized license plate program and requires the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to issue specialized license plates on behalf of a sponsoring state agency that meets certain requirements. Existing law requires that the DMV charge specified additional fees for the issuance, renewal, or transfer of specialized license plates, and requires the DMV to deposit the fees, less the DMVs costs, into the Specialized License Plate Fund. Existing law requires that moneys in the fund be allocated, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to each sponsoring agency in proportion to the amount that is attributable to the agencys specialized license plate program. Existing law requires the sponsoring state agency to use these moneys to fund projects and programs that promote the state agencys official policy, mission, or work.

Existing law requires the DMV to deposit fees for the issuance, renewal, or transfer of the Pet Lovers specialized license plates, less the DMVs costs, into the Pet Lovers Fund in the Specialized License Plate Fund, for the deposit of revenue derived from these specialized license plates. Existing law requires that these funds be allocated, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Veterinary Medical Board for disbursement by a nonprofit organization selected by the board to fund grants to providers of no-cost or low-cost animal sterilization services. Existing law requires the board to determine eligibility requirements for the grants, establish the grant application process, and develop program specifics. Existing law authorizes the board to contract with an entity, including a nonprofit organization, to provide advice, consultation, and administrative services for purposes of implementing and administering the grant program. Existing law requires the board to provide oversight for the disbursal of grant funds under the grant program.

This bill would revise and recast those provisions by, among other things, substituting the Department of Food and Agriculture for the Veterinary Medical Board for those purposes. The bill would require the department to allocate the grant funds, as specified, to eligible veterinary facilities, as defined, that offer low-cost or no-cost animal sterilization services. The bill would authorize the department to contract with an eligible nonprofit organization, as defined, to perform marketing and promotional activities. The bill would also require the department to administer and oversee the grant program, and would require the department to collaborate with an eligible nonprofit organization to provide advice and consultation for the purposes of developing and implementing the program.