Effective 28 Aug 2016

301.3087. Missouri State Humane Association special license plate, application, fee — Missouri pet spay/neuter fund created. — 1. Any person may receive special license plates as prescribed by this section, for any motor vehicle such person owns, either solely or jointly, other than an apportioned motor vehicle or a commercial motor vehicle licensed in excess of twenty-four thousand pounds gross weight, after an annual payment of an emblem-use authorization fee to the Missouri State Humane Association. The Missouri State Humane Association hereby authorizes the use of its official emblem to be affixed on multiyear personalized license plates as provided in this section. All emblem-use authorization fees, except reasonable administrative costs, shall be placed into a special fund as described in subsection 4 of this section and shall be used exclusively for the purpose of spaying and neutering dogs and cats in the state of Missouri.

2. Upon annual application and payment of a twenty-five dollar emblem-use contribution to the Missouri State Humane Association, the Missouri State Humane Association shall issue to the vehicle owner, without further charge, an emblem-use authorization statement, which shall be presented by the owner to the department of revenue at the time of registration of a motor vehicle. Upon presentation of the annual statement, payment of a fifteen dollar fee in addition to the registration fee and documents which may be required by law, the department of revenue shall issue to the vehicle owner a personalized license plate which shall bear the emblem of the Missouri State Humane Association and shall have the words "I'M PET FRIENDLY" on the license plates in place of the words "SHOW-ME STATE". Such license plates shall be made with fully reflective material with a common color scheme and design, shall be clearly visible at night, and shall be aesthetically attractive, as prescribed by section 301.130. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 301.144, no additional fee shall be charged for the personalization of license plates pursuant to this section.

3. A vehicle owner, who was previously issued a plate with the Missouri State Humane Association emblem authorized by this section but who does not provide an emblem-use authorization statement at a subsequent time of registration, shall be issued a new plate which does not bear the Missouri State Humane Association emblem, as otherwise provided by law. The director of revenue shall make necessary rules and regulations for the administration of this section, and shall design all necessary forms required by this section. No rule or portion of a rule promulgated pursuant to the authority of this section shall become effective unless it has been promulgated pursuant to the provisions of chapter 536.

4. The "Missouri Pet Spay/Neuter Fund" is hereby created as a special fund in the state treasury and shall be administered by the department of agriculture. This fund shall consist of moneys collected pursuant to this section. All moneys deposited in the Missouri pet spay/neuter fund, except reasonable administrative costs, shall be paid as grants to humane societies, local municipal animal shelters regulated by sections 273.400 to 273.405, and organizations exempt from federal income taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code to be used solely for the spaying and neutering of dogs and cats in the state of Missouri. For purposes of approving grants under this section, the governor shall appoint a volunteer board that shall consist of three Missouri residents, of which two shall be administrators of local municipal animal shelters regulated by sections 273.400 to 273.405 and one shall be an administrator of a humane society. Each of the three members shall be from separate congressional districts. Members of this board shall be appointed for three-year terms and shall meet at least twice a year to review grant applications. All moneys deposited in the Missouri pet spay/neuter fund, except reasonable administrative costs, shall be spent by the end of each fiscal year. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 33.080 to the contrary, if any moneys remain in the fund at the end of the biennium, said moneys shall not revert to the credit of the general revenue fund.

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(L. 2002 S.B. 960, A.L. 2016 H.B. 2380)