Maine Revised Statutes Title 7. Agriculture and Animals § 3923-G. Internet licensing project

1. Procedure developed; municipality participation. The commissioner may develop and implement a procedure by which a dog owner can electronically apply for and be issued a dog license using a publicly accessible site on the Internet. A municipality may choose to participate in the electronic dog licensing project by contacting and working with the commissioner. Electronic licensing is available only to residents of a municipality that requests and is accepted by the commissioner to participate in the electronic licensing project. The commissioner may limit the number of municipalities that participate in the project.

2. Forms; verification of rabies immunization. The commissioner shall develop a form to be used for electronic licensing under this section. The commissioner shall consult with the Commissioner of Health and Human Services to establish the information needed to verify rabies immunization.

3. Payment of licensing fee. The commissioner shall establish a mechanism for accepting payment of license fees by credit card. An owner or keeper who applies for a dog license using the publicly accessible site on the Internet developed pursuant to subsection 1 shall pay the fee required under section 3923-A and an additional service fee of $1 for each license to cover administrative costs and pay the Internet service provider.

4. Distribution of licensing fee. The commissioner shall deposit all fees received under this section into the Animal Welfare Fund. The commissioner shall establish procedures for participating municipalities to periodically receive the appropriate credit or payment for license fees collected by the department under this section. A municipality is entitled to a payment or credit of $3 for each dog licensed under this section. All payments or credits received by a municipality must be deposited or credited to the municipality's animal welfare account established in accordance with section 3945.

5. Repealed. Laws 2007, c. 439, § 17.

6. Exclusion of wolf hybrids, dangerous dogs and nuisance dogs. This section does not apply to the licensing of a wolf hybrid, a dangerous dog or a nuisance dog. A person owning a wolf hybrid, a dangerous dog or a nuisance dog shall obtain a license from the municipal clerk or the dog recorder for the municipality, plantation or unorganized territory in which the person owning the wolf hybrid, the dangerous dog or the nuisance dog resides.