HLS 14RS-1522 ORIGINAL
Page 1 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE BILL NO. 1056
BY REPRESENTATIVE LAMBERT
AGRICULTURE: Provides relative to assessments levied by the Louisiana Crawfish
Promotion and Research Board
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 3:556.6(A) and (B) and 556.14(A) and (H) and to repeal R.S.2
3:556.3(D), 556.7, and 556.14(B), (C), (E), (F), and (G), relative to the Louisiana3
Crawfish Promotion and Research Board; to provide for the levy of certain4
assessments on artificial crawfish bait, crawfish tail meat, and bags for the packaging5
of live crawfish; to repeal the term of appointment for board members; to repeal6
authority for referenda for assessment purposes; and to provide for related matters.7
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:8
Section 1. R.S. 3:556.6(A) and (B) and 556.14(A) and (H) are hereby amended and9
reenacted to read as follows:10
§556.6. Assessments11
A. Subject to all of the provisions of this Part, including the provisions12
relating to referenda and refunds, there There is hereby levied and imposed an13
assessment of one-quarter of one cent per pound on all artificial crawfish bait sold14
in this state. The assessment shall be ultimately paid by the crawfish farmers and15
harvesters who purchase the artificial bait.16
B. Subject to all of the provisions of this Part, including the provisions17
relating to referenda and refunds, there There is hereby levied and imposed an18
assessment on each bag used to package live crawfish in the amount of one cent for19
each bag holding less than twenty-five pounds of crawfish, and two cents for each20 HLS 14RS-1522 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 1056
Page 2 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
bag holding twenty-five pounds or more of crawfish. The assessment shall1
ultimately be paid by the crawfish farmers and harvesters who purchase the bags. 2
If the assessment levied and imposed by this Subsection is approved in a referendum,3
the initial assessment shall expire at the same time as the initial assessment levied4
and imposed by Subsection A of this Section.5
* * *6
§556.14. Assessments on crawfish tails7
A. An assessment of one cent per pound is hereby levied on all crawfish tail8
meat sold in this state if the assessment is approved in a referendum vote by a9
majority of crawfish tail meat producers called by the board for that purpose.10
* * *11
H. The assessment, if approved, shall be collected and paid at the first point12
of sale in Louisiana by the producer or distributor doing business in Louisiana and13
remitted to the department on or before the fifteenth day after the close of each14
quarter.15
* * *16
Section 2. R.S. 3:556.3(D), 556.7, and 556.14(B), (C), (E), (F), and (G) are hereby17
repealed in their entirety.18
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)]
Lambert HB No. 1056
Abstract: Provides for certain assessments to be levied, imposed, and collected on artificial
crawfish bait, crawfish tail meat, and on bags used to package live crawfish; removes
the appointment term for members of the La. Crawfish Promotion and Research
Board; and removes the authority for referenda for assessment purposes.
Present law provides for an assessment to be levied and imposed, subject to a referendum,
of 1/4 of 1¢ per pound on artificial crawfish bait to be paid by the crawfish farmers and
harvesters.
Proposed law retains present law provision for the levy of an assessment on artificial
crawfish bait but removes present law referendum requirement for assessment purposes. HLS 14RS-1522 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 1056
Page 3 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
Present law provides for an assessment to be levied and imposed, subject to a referendum,
on each bag used to package live crawfish in the amount of 1¢ for bags holding less than 25
pounds of crawfish and 2¢ on bags holding 25 or more pounds, to be paid by crawfish
farmers and harvesters who purchase the bags. Provides for the expiration of the initial
assessment if approved in a referendum.
Proposed law retains present law provision for the levy of an assessment on bags used to
package live crawfish by certain weight but removes present law referendum requirement
for assessment purposes.
Present law provides for an assessment of 1¢ per pound on crawfish tail meat sold in the
state subject to a referendum vote by a majority of producers.
Proposed law retains present law assessment relative to crawfish tail meat but removes
present law referendum requirement for assessment purposes.
Present law allows the assessment on crawfish tail meat to collected at the first point of sale
by the producer or distributor and remitted to the LDAF by a certain date, only if the
assessment is approved by a referendum.
Proposed law retains present law stipulation for crawfish tail meat assessment collection at
the first point of sale but removes present law referendum requirement for assessment
purposes.
Present law provides that members of the board be appointed for terms concurrent with that
of the commissioner making the appointment. Further provides that members serve until
their successors are appointed and sworn into office.
Proposed law repeals present law.
Present law provides that no assessment be levied or imposed unless approved by a majority
of farmers and harvesters voting in a referendum. Further provides for the effective date of
the assessment which may be reimposed indefinitely in five-year increments. Additionally
provides for certain criteria to be met for participation in the referenda as conducted by the
Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry and provides that reimposition
assessments on artificial bait and bags be conducted separately.
Proposed law repeals present law.
Present law provides for a referendum to abolish an assessment to be called by the board if
1/3 of the crawfish tail meat producers submit a petition for such purpose. Provides for the
effective date of an approved or abolished assessment. Defines the criteria for referendum
participation. Provides for the LDAF to conduct the referendum and for the notification of
referendum results.
Proposed law repeals present law.
(Amends R.S. 3:556.6(A) and (B) and 556.14(A) and (H); Repeals R.S. 3:556.3(D), 556.7,
and 556.14(B), (C), (E), (F), and (G))