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Regular Session, 2013 ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 96
BY SENATORS MORRISH, GALLOT AND RISER
A RESOLUTION
To urge and request the commissioner of agriculture to create the Louisiana Wine
Agribusiness Task Force within the Department of Agriculture and Forestry to study
and make recommendations to the legislature for growing and expanding the wine
industry with respect to economic impact, job growth, revenue generation, and
tourism potential.
WHEREAS, Louisiana wine agribusiness means the cultivation, harvest, production,
distribution, transportation, sale and consumption of native grown grapes and produced
wine; and
WHEREAS, the wine agribusiness should promote and foster the growth of
Louisiana agricultural business; and
WHEREAS, surrounding states have nurtured a thriving wine agribusiness industry
from Virginia to Texas, generating hundreds of millions of dollars for their state's general
fund; and
WHEREAS, these same states are gainfully employing tens of thousands in full-time
jobs directly and indirectly related to the wine growing industry.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Louisiana Senate does hereby urge and
request the commissioner of agriculture to create the Louisiana Wine Agribusiness Task
Force within the Department of Agriculture and Forestry to study and make
recommendations to the legislature for growing and expanding the wine industry with
respect to economic impact, job growth, revenue generation, and tourism potential. SR NO. 96 ENROLLED
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Louisiana Wine Agribusiness Task Force
shall at a minimum include the following members or their designees:
(1) The speaker of the House of Representatives.
(2) The president of the Senate.
(3) The commissioner of agriculture and forestry.
(4) The secretary of the Louisiana Department of Economic Development.
(5) The secretary of the Louisiana Department of Revenue.
(6) The chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture,
and Rural Development.
(7) The chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture,
and Rural Development.
(8) The chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and
International Affairs.
(9) The chairman of the House Committee on Commerce.
(10) A representative from the LSU AgCenter extension offices.
(11) A representative from the Louisiana National Federation of Independent
Business.
(12) A representative from the Louisiana Wine Growers Association.
(13) A representative from the Louisiana Farm Bureau.
(14) The commissioner of the Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control.
(15) A representative of the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall convene no later than
September 1, 2013, and at the first meeting the task force shall elect a chair, who shall be
responsible for calling all subsequent meetings, and shall also elect such other officers as it
deems appropriate. The majority of the membership shall constitute a quorum and any
official action of the task force shall require a vote of the majority of the quorum presenting
and voting.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of the task force shall serve
without compensation, except any per diem or expense reimbursement to which they may
be individually entitled as members of their respective organizations. SR NO. 96 ENROLLED
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall report its findings, together
with any recommendations for action, to the House and Senate agriculture committees and
House and Senate commerce committees no later than March 1, 2014, and shall thereafter
report annually to the legislature not later than March 1.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
commissioner of agriculture, the chairmen of the committees and other representatives
named herein.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE