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Regular Session, 2012
HOUSE BILL NO. 643
BY REPRESENTATIVE MONTOUCET
FUNDS/FUNDING: Provides relative to the Alligator Resource Fund
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 56:279(A), (B)(1), and (C)(1), relative to the Louisiana Alligator2
Resource Fund; to change the recipient of certain monies from the fur and refuge3
division to the office of wildlife; to provide for revenue to the fund; and to provide4
for related matters.5
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:6
Section 1. R.S. 56:279(A), (B)(1), and (C)(1) are hereby amended and reenacted to7
read as follows: 8
ยง279. Louisiana Alligator Resource Fund 9
A. Recognizing that the Louisiana alligator industry is a vital aspect of10
Louisiana's economic base and that in recent years worldwide markets and prices11
have expanded at a tremendous rate; and recognizing the rapid expansion of12
Louisiana alligator farming industry statewide; and recognizing the uniqueness of13
the state's alligator farming industry, one state agency, the Louisiana Department of14
Wildlife and Fisheries, has provided the impetus for inception and development of15
the total alligator conservation program; and recognizing the many beneficial16
influences that Louisiana's alligator program has had on crocodilian conservation17
worldwide; and recognizing world trends questioning the consumptive utilization of18
wildlife species, and recognizing that those trends, by adversely affecting economic19
conditions, could have a severe impact on the alligator industry; and recognizing that20 HLS 12RS-1213 ORIGINAL
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raw and finished alligator skins and products are largely consumed outside the1
United States; and recognizing the need to educate the public concerning alligator2
hunting as a sound wildlife management practice; and recognizing the urgent need3
to support the alligator industry with a comprehensive research and development4
program; and recognizing the need to staff and fund the Louisiana Department of5
Wildlife and Fisheries with adequate personnel in order to service this industry's6
needs, the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby establish the Louisiana Alligator7
Resource Fund within the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation Fund. The8
Alligator Resource Fund is intended to help defray the cost of alligator programs9
within the fur and refuge division office of wildlife of the Louisiana Department of10
Wildlife and Fisheries.11
B. The specific goals of this Section are: 12
(1) To provide salaries and financial support including associated indirect13
cost for the following positions, to provide a minimum of two full-time technical14
positions (biologists) and eight nontechnical positions such as computer operators,15
secretaries, and wildlife specialists existing within the fur and refuge division office16
of wildlife of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.17
* * *18
C.(1) All Except as otherwise provided by law, all revenues received by the19
state from the sale of licenses as provided in R.S. 56:251(A)(2), from tag fees20
imposed on alligator hunters, alligator farmers, alligator shipping label fees on the21
sale of alligators, and all revenues derived from the sale of alligators, alligator skins,22
or alligator eggs harvested from department-administered lands, all fees derived from23
alligator lottery harvest programs on department-administered lands and public24
waters, and all revenues derived from any other alligator-related fees and from the25
severance tax on alligator skins provided for in R.S. 56:256 shall be credited by the26
state treasurer to a special fund designated as the "Louisiana Alligator Resource27
Fund" after those revenues have been deposited in the Bond Security and28
Redemption Fund. Out of the funds remaining in the Bond Security and Redemption29 HLS 12RS-1213 ORIGINAL
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Fund after a sufficient amount is allocated from that fund to pay all obligations1
secured by the full faith and credit of the state that become due and payable within2
each fiscal year, the treasurer, prior to placing such funds in the state general fund,3
shall pay into the Louisiana Alligator Resource Fund an amount equal to the4
revenues generated from collection from those sources provided for in this Section5
and other sources as provided by law.6
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DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Montoucet HB No. 643
Abstract: Changes the recipient of monies in the Alligator Resource Fund from the fur and
refuge division to the office of wildlife of the La. Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries and
provides for the depositing of additional revenue.
Present law establishes the La. Alligator Resource Fund within the La. Wildlife and
Fisheries Conservation Fund, with the intended purpose of helping to defray the cost of
alligator programs within the fur and refuge division of LDWF.
Present law provides for salaries of staff existing within the fur and refuge division of
LDWF.
Proposed law changes "fur and refuge division" to office of wildlife.
Present law provides for all revenue received by the state from the sale of licenses, from tag
fees imposed on alligator hunters, alligator farmers, alligator shipping labels on the sale of
alligators, and all revenues derived from any other alligator-related fees and from the
severance tax on alligator skins shall be deposited by the state treasurer into the La. Alligator
Resource Fund.
Proposed law adds to present law revenues derived from the sale of alligators, alligator skins,
or alligator eggs harvested from department-administered lands and public lakes as sources
of revenue that must be deposited into the La. Alligator Resource Fund by the state treasurer.
(Amends R.S. 56:279(A), (B)(1), and (C)(1))