(a) On and after the effective date of the regulations adopted pursuant to subsection (d) of this section, the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall issue animal population control program commemorative number plates of a design to enhance public awareness of pet overpopulation and the state's effort to provide for the low-cost spaying and neutering of unsterilized dogs and cats adopted from municipal pounds. Said design shall be determined by agreement between the Commissioner of Agriculture and the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. No use may be made of such plates except as official motor vehicle registration marker plates.

(b) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, which provide for a one-time fee of fifty dollars to be charged for animal population control program commemorative number plates in addition to the regular fee or fees prescribed for the registration of a motor vehicle. Fifteen dollars of such one-time fee shall be deposited in an account controlled by the Department of Motor Vehicles to be used for administrative costs of carrying out the provisions of this subsection. Such number plates shall have letters and numbers selected by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles may establish a higher fee for: (1) Such number plates which contain letters in place of numbers as authorized by section 14-49, in addition to the fee or fees prescribed for plates issued under said section; and (2) such number plates which are low number plates, in accordance with section 14-160, in addition to the fee or fees prescribed for plates issued under said section.

(c) The biennial renewal fee for the registration certificate of a motor vehicle for which an animal population control program commemorative number plate has been issued shall include, in each renewal year subsequent to the year of issuance, an animal population control program commemorative number plate fee in the amount of fifteen dollars, of which five dollars shall be allocated for administrative costs to the Department of Motor Vehicles, which shall be in addition to the fee for the renewal of the registration certificate. No additional renewal fee shall be charged for renewal of registration for any motor vehicle bearing animal population control program commemorative number plates which contain letters in place of numbers, or low number plates, in excess of the renewal fee for animal population control program commemorative number plates with letters and numbers selected by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. No additional fee shall be charged for transfer of an existing registration to or from a registration with animal population control program commemorative number plates.

(d) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, in consultation with the Commissioner of Agriculture, shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to establish procedures for the issuance, renewal and replacement of animal population control program commemorative number plates.

(e) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall notify eligible motorists of the opportunity to obtain animal population control program commemorative number plates by including a notice with all motor vehicle registration renewals and by posting appropriate posters or signs in all division facilities and offices. The notices, posters and signs shall be designed by the Commissioner of Agriculture in consultation with the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles.

(f) All fees established and collected pursuant to this section other than those moneys designated for administrative costs of the Department of Motor Vehicles, shall be deposited in the animal population control program account established under section 22-380g.

(P.A. 97-187, S. 3, 4; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 146(e); P.A. 04-189, S. 1.)

History: P.A. 97-187 effective July 1, 1997; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6 replaced Commissioner of Agriculture with Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective July 1, 2004; P.A. 04-189 repealed Sec. 146 of June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, thereby reversing the merger of the Departments of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective June 1, 2004.