Thompson (HB 782) Act No. 556
Existing law authorizes the Dept. of Natural Resources to collect monies from entities that
use or remove surface waters of the state. Existing law allows entities that withdraw water
from the state waterbodies to reimburse the state at a fair market value including certain
economic considerations.
New law requires that entities that remove water from state water bodies determined by the
Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries to be negatively impacted by invasive aquatic vegetation to
reimburse the state at a rate of not more than 15 cents per 1,000 gallons with no
consideration for economic development or other considerations as provided in existing law.
Existing law establishes the Aquatic Plant Control Fund and deposits into the fund monies
from boat trailer registration fees. Existing law further provides that monies in the fund shall
be used to control and eradicate aquatic weeds.
New law retains existing law and further requires deposit of monies collected from the use
or withdrawal of surface water from state waterbodies into the Aquatic Plant Control Fund.
New law further provides that revenues deposited into the fund from the use of water from
waterbodies with aquatic weed should be used for the treatment of aquatic weed on those
bodies of water from which the revenue was generated.
Effective Aug. 1, 2014.
(Amends R.S. 30:961(B) and R.S. 56:10.1(B); Adds R.S. 30:691(J) and (K))