S.B. 2837 Summary

• Establishes a spay and neuter special fund administered by the department of budget and finance to provide spaying, neutering, and associated veterinary care for pets and free-roaming cats.

• Allows individual taxpayers with state income tax refunds of $5 or more to designate $5 of their refund to the spay and neuter special fund; married couples with refunds of $10 or more may each designate $5.

• Creates an advisory committee including representatives from the department of budget and finance, Hawaii Animal Welfare Association, Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association, private animal welfare organizations, and members of the general public to establish eligibility criteria and prioritize funding for trap-neuter-release organizations.

• Requires the department of land and natural resources to plan and conduct a count of free-roaming cats on all main Hawaiian islands in collaboration with animal welfare groups, with a report due to the legislature prior to the 2023 regular session.

• Appropriates unspecified funds for fiscal year 2022-2023 to implement the spay and neuter program and the free-roaming cat count; takes effect July 1, 2050.