Section 35WW. There shall be established and set up on the books of the commonwealth a separate fund, to be known as the Homeless Animal Prevention and Care Fund. The fund shall be used by the department of agricultural resources to offset costs associated with the vaccination, spaying and neutering of homeless dogs and cats, to offset costs associated with the vaccination, spaying and neutering of dogs and cats owned by low-income residents and to assist with the training of animal control officers consistent with section 151C of chapter 140. The department may use the fund for necessary and reasonable administrative and personnel costs related to the specific purposes of the fund. The commissioner of agricultural resources shall establish rules and regulations relating to the fund.
The fund shall consist of all revenues received by the commonwealth pursuant to the voluntary check-off donation indicated on the department of revenue’s annual income tax return authorized by section 6L of chapter 62 and from public and private sources as gifts, grants and donations to further reduce the population of homeless animals.
The state treasurer shall deposit amounts in the fund in accordance with section 34 of chapter 29 in a manner that will secure the highest interest rate available consistent with the safety of the fund and with the requirement that all amounts on deposit shall be available for immediate withdrawal at any time. The fund may be expended by the commissioner of agricultural resources without further appropriation for the purposes stated in this section and any funds remaining at the end of any fiscal year shall not revert to the General Fund and shall be available for use in subsequent fiscal years.
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