HB 1400 Summary

• Establishes the Indiana companion animal sterilization fund administered by Spay-Neuter Services of Indiana, Inc., to provide free spaying and neutering services for dogs and cats owned by Medicaid recipients.

• Allows individual income tax refunds to be designated for the companion animal sterilization fund as a charitable purpose option alongside existing nongame and education funds.

• Imposes a $50 fee on retail sales of unsterilized cats and dogs, collected by retail merchants and deposited into the sterilization fund.

• Increases the annual pet food inspection fee for packages of 10 pounds or less from $50 to $80, with the $30 increase directed to the sterilization fund.

• Takes effect July 1, 2014, with all fund revenue used for spaying/neutering services and administrative costs capped at 15% annually.