This chapter explains the requirements of the Spay/Neuter Grant Program. The purpose of this program, administered by the Maryland Department of Agriculture, is to reduce animal shelter overpopulation and cat and dog euthanasia rates by financing grants to local governments and animal welfare organizations for programs that most efficiently and effectively facilitate and promote spay and neuter services for cats and dogs. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated. Terms Defined. “Animal welfare organization” means a not-for-profit organization established to promote animal welfare that has received tax exempt status under 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code and is registered to do business in Maryland. “Department” means Maryland Department of Agriculture. “Fund” means the Spay/Neuter Fund. “Project” means an action plan that the applicant agrees to follow for spay and neuter services for cats and dogs. “Spay/Neuter Advisory Board” means the Spay/Neuter Advisory Board of the Department. Only the following may apply for a grant under this chapter: A municipal or county government; or An animal welfare organization. A qualified applicant who applies for a grant shall apply on a departmental form that includes, among other things, the following: The project title; The applicant’s name and contact information; The qualifications of the applicant and the personnel who will work on the project, including veterinary services, if applicable; The amount of the grant requested; and A project description, which shall include: The project’s objectives and expected outcomes; A work plan and budget summary of the proposed project; How the project meets the purposes of the Fund and the requirements of the grant; and Any additional information required by the Department. The Department shall solicit one or more times annually, depending on available funding, competitive grant proposals to facilitate the delivery of spay and neuter services. It is the Department’s intent to select the best proposals that most efficiently and effectively facilitate and promote the provision of those services and target low-income communities and populations to the maximum extent possible. The Department shall provide guidelines and detailed instructions for submitting a proposal for the Department’s consideration. The Department shall rank applications based on the following: The Department shall rank eligible applications and select for funding those that most effectively and efficiently achieve the purpose of the Fund; and In determining which projects to fund, the Department will consider: How low-income communities and populations are targeted and how the goal of reaching those communities and populations will be accomplished; How well the project proposal identifies and assesses the need for additional spay and neuter services in the targeted community or population, and how effectively and efficiently the project will meet that need; Whether a proposal targeting feral cat populations violates local law; How the project proposal identifies and meets the need to promote spay/neuter services to the targeted population or community through education and outreach; The extent to which the project increases the number of spay/neuter procedures in Maryland and impacts animal shelter over-population and cat and dog euthanasia rates; The expected project results relative to the amount of funds requested; The qualifications and experience of the applicant and the individuals who will be responsible for implementing the project; and The recommendations of the Spay Neuter Advisory Board. Upon approval of a grant application by the Department, the applicant on a Departmental form, shall execute a grant agreement that, among other things, requires the applicant to: Establish and operate the project according to the project description; Maintain and provide records and reports as required to the Department; and Use grant funds for only those activities provided in the approved project application. The Department shall distribute grants, unless otherwise provided in the grant agreement, as follows: 50 percent of the grant will be disbursed after receipt of an executed grant agreement and after receipt of any required documentation; and The remaining 50 percent of the grant will be disbursed after receipt of the 2nd quarter report that is due 180 days after the grant cycle begins. The recipient of a spay/neuter grant shall: Keep and maintain complete and accurate records of all activities connected with the grant; Report relevant information to the Department on how the grant was used to date, including data on the number and type of spay or neuter procedures performed, and such other information as requested by the Department; Submit a final report, to the Department, both narrative and financial, within 30 days after the conclusion of the grant cycle, or upon completion of the project, whichever comes first. The final report shall be in a form as required by the Department, and shall include: Data on the number of spay and neuter procedures performed under the grant; A description of any public education and outreach efforts implemented; An evaluation of the degree to which the project’s objectives and expected outcomes were met; A detailed accounting of the disbursement of all funds; and Any other information required by the Department; and Notify the Department in writing immediately of any significant change to the grant application or any funded grant activity. Failure to report as required by this regulation may jeopardize future grants to the grant recipient, and may result in the grant recipient being required to repay current grant funds. If the Department determines that the grant recipient has violated the grant agreement or that grant funds have not been used for their intended purpose as provided in the grant agreement, the Department may: Discontinue any future grant payments; Require the grant recipient to repay immediately to the Department the full amount of the grant, or a portion of the grant; and Deny any future grant eligibility to the grant recipient. Any person who registers a commercial feed under Agriculture Article, §6-107, Annotated Code of Maryland, that is prepared and distributed for consumption by a cat or dog shall: Pay to the Department for use in the spay/neuter fund, the following fees for each registered brand or product: From October 1, 2013, through September 30, 2014, inclusive — $50; From October 1, 2014, through September 30, 2015, inclusive — $75; and After September 30, 2015 — $100; and Declare on each application for registration that the product is prepared and distributed for consumption by a cat or dog. Any person who fails to pay any fees required by this regulation is subject to the standards, policies, and procedures for the collection of claims of the State pursuant to COMAR 17.01.01. Agriculture Article §§2-1602 and 2-1605, Annotated Code of Maryland Effective date: June 23, 2014 (41:12 Md. R. 668)