HB 191 ANIMAL WELFARE FUNDING ACT

Rep Tara L. Lujan

Actions: [2] HCPAC/HAFC-HCPAC [4] DP-HAFC

Scheduled: Not Scheduled

 House Bill 191 (HB 191) enacts the Animal Welfare Funding Act and requires the Department of Finance and Administration to administer animal welfare grants. HB 191 creates the Animal Welfare Trust Fund and the Animal Welfare Grant Fund. HB 191 makes an appropriation.  

 House Bill 191 enacts the Animal Welfare Funding Act, creates two funds and makes an appropriation.

SECTION 1 creates the Animal Welfare Funding Act (Act).

SECTION 2 provides definitions as used in the Act

SECTION 3 allows animal welfare grants (Grants) and provides the requirements.
A. A qualified entity shall apply for a Grant for a project relating to domestic cats, dogs or equines in a form provided by the department. An application for an animal welfare grant shall identify that funding will be used as specified in this subsection. 

B. The department shall receive and review applications for Grants. In addition to the other requirements provided pursuant to the Act, the department shall provide a grant only if: (1) the application demonstrates a public benefit, as defined by rules promulgated by the department; and (2) funding is available. 

SECTION 4 provides duties and reporting for Grants as follows:
The department shall promulgate rules as specified in this subsection regarding application procedures, criteria for selection and other information required for funding. 

B. By September 30, 2025, and every succeeding September 30 thereafter, the department shall report to the governor and the appropriate interim legislative committee on grants awarded during the previous fiscal year and the progress of projects funded. 

SECTION 5 creates the Animal Welfare Trust Fund (Trust Fund).

A. The Trust Fund is created in the state treasury and consists of the usual funding sources. Money in the Trust Fund shall be invested by the state investment officer as land grant permanent funds are invested. Earnings from investment of the Trust Fund shall be credited to the Trust Fund. Money in the Trust Fund shall not be expended for any purpose, but an annual distribution shall be made to the Animal Welfare Grant Fund (Grant Fund). 

B. On July 1, 2025 and on July 1 of each year thereafter, an annual distribution shall be made from the Trust Fund to the Grant Fund in the amount of $100,000 until that amount is less than an amount equal to four and seven-tenths percent of the average of the year-end market values of the trust fund for the immediately preceding five calendar years. Thereafter, the amount of the annual distribution shall be as described in this subsection.

SECTION 6 creates the Grant Fund in the state treasury and consists of the usual funding sources. Money in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall revert to the Trust Fund. The department shall administer the Grant Fund. Money in the fund is appropriated by the legislature to the department to provide grants and to pay administrative costs. Disbursements from the Grant Fund shall be made in the usual way.

SECTION 7 makes an appropriation of $10,000,000 from the General Fund to the Trust Fund for expenditure in Fiscal Year 2025 and subsequent fiscal years to carry out the purposes of the Act. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of a fiscal year shall not revert to the General Fund.