HLS 15RS-916 REENGROSSED
2015 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 198
BY REPRESENTATIVE ST. GERMAIN
FISHING/CRABS: Increases fees for participation in the commercial crab fishery
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 56:305(B)(2) and (C)(1), relative to commercial crab fishing; to
3 increase the fees for participation in the commercial crab fishery; to increase the
4 dedications to certain accounts from the funds collected by the crab trap gear license;
5 to establish an exception to the senior commercial fishing license exemption; and to
6 provide for related matters.
7Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 56:305(B)(2) and (C)(1) are hereby amended and reenacted to read
9as follows:
10 ยง305. Commercial gear license; issuance to certain nonresidents prohibited;
11 moratorium on certain new gear licenses; renewals
12 * * *
13 B. Residents shall pay a commercial gear fee as follows:
14 * * *
15 (2) Crab traps: thirty-five fifty dollars to use any legal number of crab traps
16 for the privilege of using crab traps to fish commercially. An amount equal to five
17 ten dollars from each commercial crab trap gear license shall be credited to the
18 Derelict Crab Trap Removal Program Account as provided in R.S. 56:10(B)(13), and
19 an amount equal to five ten dollars from each commercial crab trap license shall be
20 credited to the Crab Promotion and Marketing Account as provided in R.S.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 15RS-916 REENGROSSED
HB NO. 198
1 56:10(B)(1)(e). Any resident who holds a senior commercial fishing license shall
2 be exempt from the provisions of this Paragraph.
3 * * *
4 C.(1)(i) The commercial gear fee for nonresidents is four times the gear fee
5 for residents; however, the nonresident fee for oyster dredges and tongs in particular
6 shall be eight times the fee for residents.
7 (ii) An amount equal to twenty forty dollars for each nonresident
8 commercial crab trap gear license shall be credited to the Derelict Crab Trap
9 Removal Program Account as provided in R.S. 56:10(B)(13), and an amount
10 equal to twenty forty dollars from each commercial crab trap gear license
11 shall be credited to the Crab Promotion and Marketing Account as provided
12 in R.S. 56:10(B)(1)(e).
13 * * *
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)]
HB 198 Reengrossed 2015 Regular Session St. Germain
Abstract: Increases the fees for participation in the commercial crab fishery and increases
the dedications to the Derelict Crab Trap Removal Program and the Crab Promotion
and Marketing Account.
Present law provides for a $35 commercial crab trap gear license fee for any number of legal
crab traps. Dedicates $5 from each license to the Derelict Crab Trap Removal Program
Account and $5 to the Crab Promotion and Marketing Account. Exempts residents who hold
a senior commercial fishing license.
Proposed law increases the gear license fee from $35 to $50. Increases the two dedications
from $5 to $10 each. Retains exemption for resident senior commercial license holders.
Present law provides for a nonresident gear fee equal to four times the resident rate. In this
case, the nonresident gear fee for crab traps is $140. Dedicates $20 from each license to the
Derelict Crab Trap Removal Program Account and $20 to the Crab Promotion and
Marketing Account.
Proposed law leaves the nonresident rate at four times the resident rate which would become
$200 per year and increases the dedications to each program from $20 to $40.
(Amends R.S. 56:305(B)(2) and (C)(1))
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 15RS-916 REENGROSSED
HB NO. 198
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Natural Resources
and Environment to the original bill:
1. Increase nonresident crab trap gear license fee from $140 per year to $200
per year.
2. Increase the dedications of revenue from the nonresident gear fee to the
Derelict Crab Trap Removal Program Account and the Crab Promotion and
Marketing Account from $20 to $40.
3. Remove authorization for a buoy tagging system for identification of the crab
trap owners.
The House Floor Amendments to the engrossed bill:
1. Remove text exempting resident senior commercial license holders from
payment for buoy tags. Authorization for a buoy tag system was previously
removed by committee amendments.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.