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ACT No. 131
Regular Session, 2012
HOUSE BILL NO. 643
BY REPRESENTATIVE MONTOUCET
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
raw and finished alligator skins and products are largely consumed outside the21
United States; and recognizing the need to educate the public concerning alligator22
hunting as a sound wildlife management practice; and recognizing the urgent need23
to support the alligator industry with a comprehensive research and development24 ENROLLEDHB NO. 643
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program; and recognizing the need to staff and fund the Louisiana Department of1
Wildlife and Fisheries with adequate personnel in order to service this industry's2
needs, the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby establish the Louisiana Alligator3
Resource Fund within the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation Fund. The4
Alligator Resource Fund is intended to help defray the cost of alligator programs5
within the fur and refuge division office of wildlife of the Louisiana Department of6
Wildlife and Fisheries.7
B. The specific goals of this Section are: 8
(1) To provide salaries and financial support including associated indirect9
cost for the following positions, to provide a minimum of two full-time technical10
positions (biologists) and eight nontechnical positions such as computer operators,11
secretaries, and wildlife specialists existing within the fur and refuge division office12
of wildlife of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.13
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C.(1) All Except as otherwise provided by law, all revenues received by the15
state from the sale of licenses as provided in R.S. 56:251(A)(2), from tag fees16
imposed on alligator hunters, alligator farmers, alligator shipping label fees on the17
sale of alligators, and all revenues derived from the sale of alligators, alligator skins,18
or alligator eggs harvested from department-administered lands, all fees derived from19
alligator lottery harvest programs on department-administered lands and public20
waters, and all revenues derived from any other alligator-related fees and from the21
severance tax on alligator skins provided for in R.S. 56:256 shall be credited by the22
state treasurer to a special fund designated as the "Louisiana Alligator Resource23
Fund" after those revenues have been deposited in the Bond Security and24
Redemption Fund. Out of the funds remaining in the Bond Security and Redemption25
Fund after a sufficient amount is allocated from that fund to pay all obligations26
secured by the full faith and credit of the state that become due and payable within27
each fiscal year, the treasurer, prior to placing such funds in the state general fund,28
shall pay into the Louisiana Alligator Resource Fund an amount equal to the29 ENROLLEDHB NO. 643
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revenues generated from collection from those sources provided for in this Section1
and other sources as provided by law.2
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SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI VES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED: