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Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE BILL NO. 913
BY REPRESENTATIVE LEOPOLD
FISHING/FINFISH: Creates the Louisiana Finfish Task Force
AN ACT1
To enact R.S. 36:610(B)(12) and R.S. 56:301.10, relative to commercial and recreational2
finfish; to create the Louisiana Finfish Task Force; to provide for membership; to3
provide for powers, duties, and responsibilities; and to provide for related matters.4
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:5
Section 1. R.S. 36:610(B)(12) is hereby enacted to read as follows:6
§610. Transfer of agencies and functions to Department of Wildlife and Fisheries7
* * *8
B. The following agencies, as defined in R.S. 36:3, are transferred to and9
hereinafter shall be within the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, as provided in10
R.S. 36:802.11
* * *12
(12) The Louisiana Finfish Task Force (R.S. 56:301.10)13
* * *14
Section 2. R.S. 56:301.10 is hereby enacted to read as follows:15
§301.10. Louisiana Finfish Task Force16
A. There is hereby established the Louisiana Finfish Task Force to study and17
monitor the finfish industry and to make recommendations to the Wildlife and18
Fisheries Commission, the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, and other state19 HLS 14RS-1026 ENGROSSED
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agencies for the maximization of benefit from that industry for the state of Louisiana1
and its citizens.2
B. The task force shall be composed as follows:3
(1) The governor or his designee.4
(2) Three members appointed by the secretary of the Department of Wildlife5
and Fisheries as follows:6
(a) One member who is a fisheries biologist.7
(b) One member who is an enforcement agent.8
(c) One member who is an economist.9
(3) The commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Forestry or his10
designee.11
(4) The secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals or his designee.12
(5) Three members and three alternate members appointed by the governor13
each of whom shall possess a commercial fisherman's license with a "certified"14
endorsement pursuant to R.S. 56:303(E), with three to be selected from a list of six15
nominees submitted by the Louisiana Shrimp Association and three to be selected16
from a list of six nominees submitted by the Delta Commercial Fisheries17
Association.18
(6) One member appointed by the governor who is an active Louisiana dock19
buyer of finfish.20
(7) Three members and three alternate members appointed by the governor21
each of whom shall possess recreational freshwater and saltwater fishing licenses,22
with four to be selected from a list of eight nominees submitted by the Coastal23
Conservation Association Louisiana and two to be selected from a list of four24
nominees submitted by BASS Louisiana.25
C. The members appointed pursuant to the provisions of Paragraphs (B)(l)26
through (4) of this Section shall be nonvoting members. In addition, they shall not27
be considered members of the task force for determination of the number of28
members necessary for a quorum and for establishing the presence of a quorum.29 HLS 14RS-1026 ENGROSSED
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D. The task force shall adopt bylaws under which it shall operate, and four1
voting members of the task force shall constitute a quorum sufficient to conduct2
meetings and business of the task force. The governor shall appoint the chairman of3
the task force for a period of one year, and thereafter the task force shall elect a4
chairman from its membership and may seek and receive assistance from universities5
within the state in the development of methods to increase production and6
marketability of finfish. The members of the task force shall serve without7
compensation; however, the task force may receive the same reimbursement of travel8
expenses for attending the meetings as is allowed for other state employees' travel.9
E. The task force is hereby charged with responsibility to do the following:10
(1) Coordinate efforts to increase finfish production and marketability.11
(2) Provide for the study of the decline in finfish marketability and market12
price, provide for the study of the impacts of imported finfish on the domestic13
market, assist in the development of a state finfish inspection program, assist in the14
development of a Louisiana finfish certification and branding program, and make15
recommendations to the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, the Department of16
Wildlife and Fisheries, the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of17
Agriculture and Forestry, and the Department of Health and Hospitals for18
implementation of policies to help enhance the domestic finfish industry.19
(3) Make recommendations with respect to issues pertaining to the finfish20
industry and finfish production to the various state agencies charged with21
responsibility for differing elements of the finfish industry in this state, including the22
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, the Department of Natural Resources, the23
Office of Coastal Protection and Restoration, the Department of Health and24
Hospitals, the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, and the legislature.25
(4) Develop markets and marketing strategies for the development and26
expansion of markets for finfish harvested from Louisiana waters.27 HLS 14RS-1026 ENGROSSED
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(5) Represent the interests of the Louisiana finfish industry before federal1
and state administrative and legislative bodies on issues of importance to the2
Louisiana finfish industry.3
(6) Contract for legal services to represent the interests of the Louisiana4
finfish industry in judicial, administrative, and legislative proceedings.5
(7) Perform any acts deemed necessary and proper to carry out its duties and6
responsibilities.7
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)]
Leopold HB No. 913
Abstract: Creates the Louisiana Finfish Task Force in the Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries.
Proposed law, relative to finfish, creates the La. Finfish Task Force within the Dept. of
Wildlife and Fisheries to consist of the following appointments:
(1)The governor or his designee.
(2)Three members appointed by the secretary of the Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries to
include a marine biologist, an enforcement agent, and an economist.
(3)The commissioner of the Dept. of Agriculture and Forestry or his designee.
(4)The secretary of the Dept. of Health and Hospitals or his designee.
(5)Three members and three alternate members appointed by the governor each of
whom possesses a commercial fisherman's license with a "certified" endorsement,
three to be selected from a list of six nominees submitted by the La. Shrimp
Association and three to be selected from a list of six nominees submitted by the
Delta Commercial Fisheries Association.
(6)One member appointed by the governor who is an active La. dock buyer of finfish.
(7)Three members and three alternate members appointed by the governor each of
whom possesses recreational freshwater and saltwater fishing licenses, four to be
selected from a list of eight nominees submitted by the Coastal Conservation
Association of La. and two to be selected from a list of four nominees submitted by
BASS Louisiana.
Provides that the appointees representing state government agencies are not voting members
and are not counted as part of a quorum. Provides for adoption of bylaws and provides for
appointment by the governor of a chairman for the first year. Provides for election of a
chairman by the task force thereafter.
Prohibits compensation for appointees but authorizes reimbursement of expenses at the same
rate as state employees. Charges the task force with responsibility to coordinate efforts to HLS 14RS-1026 ENGROSSED
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increase production and marketability; study the decline in finfish marketability; assist in the
development of a finfish inspection program and branding program, and make
recommendations to the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission and state departments and
agencies for implementation of policies intended to enhance the domestic finfish industry.
Further provides that the task force shall represent the industry before federal and state
administrative and legislative bodies and contract for legal services necessary to represent
the interests of the finfish industry in judicial, administrative, and legislative proceedings.
(Adds R.S. 36:610(B)(12) and R.S. 56:301.10)