(a) Development of plan.--On or before March 1, 1997, the department, in consultation with the Dog Law Advisory Board, shall develop a plan to provide for the appointment of an adequate number of State dog wardens to serve in each of the department's Dog Law enforcement regions. The plan shall provide for the appointment of State dog wardens to each Dog Law enforcement region as specified in the plan no later than January 1, 1998. Upon completion, the plan shall be forwarded to the chairman and minority chairman of the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee of the Senate and the chairman and minority chairman of the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives.

(b) Restriction on use of surplus funds.--Notwithstanding any other provision of this act to the contrary, the department shall not make any payments of surplus funds pursuant to section 1002(b)¹ to counties, municipalities, humane societies or associations for the prevention of cruelty to animals unless and until it has developed and implemented a plan to appoint an adequate number of State dog wardens to serve in each of its Dog Law enforcement regions in accordance with subsection (a). Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit a county or municipality, as the case may be, from appointing county dog wardens to perform the duties and functions of Dog Law enforcement alone or in conjunction with a State dog warden in any Dog Law enforcement region.