ENROLLED
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Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE BILL NO. 913
BY REPRESENTATIVES LEOPOLD AND GAROFALO
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
agencies for the maximization of benefit from that industry for the state of Louisiana20
and its citizens.21
B. The task force shall be composed as follows:22
(1) The governor or his designee.23 ENROLLEDHB NO. 913
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(2) Three members appointed by the secretary of the Department of Wildlife1
and Fisheries as follows:2
(a) One member who is a fisheries biologist.3
(b) One member who is an enforcement agent.4
(c) One member who is an economist.5
(3) The commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Forestry or his6
designee.7
(4) The secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals or his designee.8
(5) Three members and three alternate members appointed by the governor9
each of whom shall possess a commercial fisherman's license with a "certified"10
endorsement pursuant to R.S. 56:303(E), with three to be selected from a list of six11
nominees submitted by the Louisiana Shrimp Association and three to be selected12
from a list of six nominees submitted by the Delta Commercial Fisheries13
Association.14
(6) One member appointed by the governor who is an active Louisiana dock15
buyer of finfish.16
(7) Three members and three alternate members appointed by the governor17
each of whom shall possess recreational freshwater and saltwater fishing licenses,18
with four to be selected from a list of eight nominees submitted by the Coastal19
Conservation Association Louisiana and two to be selected from a list of four20
nominees submitted by the Louisiana Chapter of the Bass Anglers Sportsman21
Society (B.A.S.S.).22
(8) One member of the Senate appointed by the president of the Senate.23
(9) One member of the House of Representatives appointed by the speaker24
of the House of Representatives.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 ENROLLEDHB NO. 913
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D. The task force shall adopt bylaws under which it shall operate, and five1
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
except all legislative members of the commission shall receive the same per diem10
and travel allowance for attending meetings of the task force or any meeting thereof11
as is normally provided for members of the legislature.12
E. The task force is hereby charged with responsibility to do the following:13
(1) Coordinate efforts to increase finfish production and marketability.14
(2) Provide for the study of the decline in finfish marketability and market15
price, provide for the study of the impacts of imported finfish on the domestic16
market, assist in the development of a state finfish inspection program, assist in the17
development of a Louisiana finfish certification and branding program, and make18
recommendations to the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, the Department of19
Wildlife and Fisheries, the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of20
Agriculture and Forestry, and the Department of Health and Hospitals for21
implementation of policies to help enhance the domestic finfish industry.22
(3) Make recommendations with respect to issues pertaining to the finfish23
industry and finfish production to the various state agencies charged with24
responsibility for differing elements of the finfish industry in this state, including the25
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, the Department of Natural Resources, the26
Office of Coastal Protection and Restoration, the Department of Health and27
Hospitals, the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, and the legislature.28
(4) Develop markets and marketing strategies for the development and29
expansion of markets for finfish harvested from Louisiana waters.30 ENROLLEDHB NO. 913
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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
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI VES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED: