Section 117-A - Animal population control program1. The commissioner shall submit a request for proposals from not-for-profit entities as described herein for the purpose of administering a state animal population control program. The entity chosen to administer such program shall enter into a contract with the state for a term of five years, which may be renewed subject to the approval of the commissioner. The purpose of this program shall be to reduce the population of unwanted and stray dogs and cats thereby reducing incidence of euthanasia and potential threats to public health and safety posed by the large population of these animals. This program shall seek to accomplish its purpose by encouraging residents of New York state who are the owners of dogs and cats to have them spayed or neutered by providing low-cost spaying and neutering services to such owners meeting the criteria enumerated in subdivision three of this section. For purposes of this section, "low-cost" shall mean substantially less than the average cost in a particular region of the state for spaying or neutering services, including any and all ancillary changes for services, including but not limited to, presurgical examinations, tests and immunizations, and other services related to the spay or neuter procedure. All veterinary services provided pursuant to this section must be performed by a veterinarian licensed in this state.2. Eligible not-for-profit entities shall consist of duly incorporated societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals, duly incorporated humane societies, duly incorporated animal protective associations, or duly incorporated non-profit corporations that have received designation as 501(c)(3) entities by the Internal Revenue Service and which entities are operating as animal rescue organizations, animal adoption organizations, spay/neuter clinics, or other entities whose core mission predominantly includes statewide efforts to manage the companion animal population in New York state. In awarding the contract, the commissioner must consider the following criteria with respect to each applicant: its experience in providing low-cost spay-neuter services, the scope of services it provides, the length of time it has been operating, its financial history, its demonstrated ability to work with outside organizations and community groups, and the proposed cost of administering and promoting the program. In choosing such entity, the commissioner may establish other criteria for making his or her selection in consultation with veterinarians, representatives from animal advocacy and welfare organizations, and municipalities. The selection of the administrative entity overseeing the state animal population control fund must be completed no later than December thirty-first, two thousand ten. (a) The administrative entity chosen by the commissioner shall review plans submitted for approval and funding of low-cost spay-neuter programs and award grants for the animal population control fund for implementation of such plans. In reviewing the plans, the entity shall consider the following criteria: the method of providing low-cost spay-neuter services, including an anticipated fee schedule for such services, the size and need of the population served, the plan for outreach and promotion of such services, experience in providing low-cost spay-neuter services and cost-effectiveness of the overall plan. In awarding grants, the entity shall use best efforts to provide statewide distribution of funding.(b)(i) Upon approving a plan submitted pursuant to this section, the administrative entity shall award a grant for the creation and implementation of such plan.(ii) Upon approving a plan submitted for approval and funding of all other spay-neuter programs, the administrative entity shall award grants for the ongoing administration of low-cost spay-neuter services. Payments against such grants shall be advanced quarterly. Any remaining funds at the end of the grant period shall be remitted to the animal population control fund.(iii) Any grants made pursuant to this section may be discontinued if it is found by the administrative entity that funds previously disbursed were not used for their intended purpose or that services performed were not provided according to the terms and conditions as the administrative entity shall provide.(c) An administrative entity selected pursuant to this section shall use proceeds from the animal population control fund to pay for reasonable expenses incurred in operating the low-cost spay-neuter program, but is hereby authorized to solicit funds from other public and private sources.(d) Such administrative entity shall submit an annual report to the governor, the temporary president of the senate, the speaker of the assembly, the minority leader of the senate, the minority leader of the assembly, and the commissioner. Such report shall include but not be limited to the balance of the fund, annual expenditures, annual income, the number of entities receiving funding and the amount received by each entity, the total number and type of low-cost spay-neuter services provided by each entity, the method of providing such services by each entity, the expenditure made for promoting the fund and description of marketing efforts, and recommendations regarding the implementation and financial viability of the fund.(e) The administrative entity shall perform such other tasks as may be reasonable and necessary for the administration of such fund.(f) If the administrative entity cannot perform its obligations pursuant to its contract, or if it is determined by the commissioner that it is not performing its obligations in a satisfactory manner, the commissioner may cancel such contract and issue another request for proposals from other entities to administer the program.3. In order to be eligible to participate in the animal population control program, and therefore, be entitled to the low-cost spay/neuter services provided for herein, an owner of a dog or cat shall be a resident of New York state and shall submit proof to the entity providing such services as follows: (a) in the form of an adoption agreement that their dog or cat was adopted from a pound, shelter maintained by or under contract or agreement with the state or any county, city, town, or village, duly incorporated society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, duly incorporated humane society or duly incorporated dog or cat protective association; or(b) proof of participation in at least one of the following: (i) the food stamp program authorized pursuant to 7 U.S.C. 2011, et seq.;(ii) the supplemental security income for the aged, blind and disabled program authorized pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 1381 et seq.;(iii) the low income housing assistance program authorized pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 1437(f);(iv) the Family Assistance program authorized pursuant to title ten of article five of the social services law;(v) the Safety Net Assistance program authorized pursuant to title three of article five of the social services law;(vi) the program of Medical Assistance authorized pursuant to title eleven of article five of the social services law; or(vii) other similar programs identified by the administrative entity and approved by the commissioner; and(c) in any city, town, village, or county which has enacted a local law or ordinance requiring spay/neuter of all dogs and cats prior to adoption from shelters, pounds, duly incorporated societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals, humane societies and duly incorporated dog or cat protective associations within such city, town, village or county, eligibility for participation in the animal population control program shall be determined based solely on the provisions of paragraph (b) of this subdivision.4. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (a) of subdivision three of this section, no resident, otherwise qualified pursuant to such paragraph, shall be entitled to participate in the low cost spay/neuter program implemented by this section if the animal to be spayed or neutered:(a) was imported or caused to be imported from outside the state;(b) was adopted from an otherwise qualifying pound, shelter, duly incorporated society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, duly incorporated humane society or duly incorporated dog or cat protective association which included the cost of a spaying or neutering procedure in the cost of the adoption.5. Any county is hereby authorized to establish and implement an animal population control program within its jurisdiction. Any county creating its own program may submit a plan to the administrative entity for such program for approval and to receive funding from the animal population control program. Such plan shall include but not be limited to the criteria described in paragraph (a) of subdivision two of this section.6. Any county which has created its own program, which has been approved by the administrative entity pursuant to this section, may receive the funds collected by the municipalities within the county pursuant to subdivision three of section one hundred nine of this article and subdivision three of section one hundred ten of this article for the sole purpose of administering such animal population control program. Such county program shall be subject to this article and the terms and conditions of the animal population control program, as may be amended from time to time.7. Any municipality within a county that does not have its own program approved by the administrative entity pursuant to subdivision two of this section must submit the funds collected pursuant to subdivision three of section one hundred ten of this article to the animal population control fund pursuant to section ninety-seven-xx of the state finance law.8. In the absence of a county animal population control program, entities described below within such county may, pursuant to subdivision two of this section, apply for funds from the animal population control fund described in section ninety-seven-xx of the state finance law for the sole purpose of providing low-cost spay and neuter services in their service area. In the event that the service area of an entity encompasses two or more counties, such entity may apply and receive funding from the animal population control fund to serve such portion of their service area that is not covered by an existing county animal population control program. Such entities shall include pounds, duly incorporated societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals, duly incorporated humane societies, duly incorporated animal protective associations and duly incorporated nonprofit corporations that have received designation as a 501(c)(3) organization by the Internal Revenue Service, which entities are operating as animal rescue or adoption organizations. Any such entity must also be in good standing with the charities bureau of the office of the attorney general and with the secretary of state.9. The administrative entity shall establish reporting requirements for any entity awarded funding through the animal population control program, and any other protocols necessary to ensure appropriate and effective use of monies disbursed pursuant to this section.N.Y. Agric. and Mkts. Law § 117-A