BILL NUMBER: S6120

SPONSOR: BOYLE
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the tax law, in relation to establishing a tax credit
for the adoption of a dog or cat

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To grant an individual taxpayer a credit of one hundred dollars for each
dog or cat adopted from an animal shelter, for a maximum of three dogs
or cats per taxable year.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section 1. Amending the tax law by adding a new subsection to create a
tax credit for the adoption of dogs or cats Subsection 1. Allows a cred-
it for the adoption of a maximum of three dogs or cats per taxable year
from a qualifying adoption entity. The amount of the credit shall be one
hundred dollars per dog or cat, for a maximum of three dogs or cats per
              

taxable year, provided that keeping such dog or cat is not in violation
of any applicable provisions of federal, state or local law.

Subsection 2. Allows the commissioner to require a qualified taxpayer to
furnish proof of spaying or neutering.  Subsection 3. Allows the credit
provided for this subsection with respect to the taxable year, commenc-
ing after January first, two thousand twenty-one, in which the dog or
cat is adopted.

Section 2. Establishes effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Animal shelters in the U.S. care for millions of dogs and cats every
year. According to the American Society of Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals, fifty percent of unadopted dogs in shelters and seventy percent
of unadopted cats in shelters are euthanized each year.  Encouraging
prospective pet owners to adopt from a qualifying pound, shelter, duly
incorporated society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, humane
society, dog, cat or other protective or rescue association which serves
a humane purpose.

The care, housing, and euthanizing of these animals come at a signif-
icant cost to the public. Public policy that effectively encourages
animal adoption is beneficial to taxpayers. Tax credits for dog and cat
adoption is likely to be reinvested into the pet industry.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2020: S. 621- Referred to Investigations and Government Operations
2019: S. 621- Referred to Investigations and Government Operations
2018: S. 614- Referred to Investigations and Government Operations
2017: S. 614- Referred to Investigations and Government Operations
2016: S. 4576- Referred to Investigations and Government Operations
2015: S. 4576- Referred to Investigations and Government Operations

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to adoptions in
taxable years beginning on and after January 1, 2021.