HLS 15RS-937 ORIGINAL
2015 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 295
BY REPRESENTATIVE BROWN
AGRICULTURE: Provides for a forest protection assessment and the transfer of monies
received from the assessment to the Louisiana Agricultural Finance Authority
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact Part II-A of Chapter 28 of Title 3 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes
3 of 1950, to be comprised of R.S. 3:4321, relative to the forest protection tax; to
4 provide for a forest protection assessment; to provide for unencumbered and
5 unexpended monies in the Forest Protection Fund; and to provide for related matters.
6Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. To amend and reenact Part II-A of Chapter 28 of Title 3 of the Louisiana
8Revised Statutes of 1950, comprised of R.S. 3:4321, is hereby amended and reenacted to
9read as follows:
10 PART II-A. Forest Protection Tax Assessment
11 ยง4321. Forest protection tax assessment
12 A. There is hereby levied an annual tax assessment of eight cents per acre
13 on each acre of timberland in the state to be paid by the owners thereof, which shall
14 be known as the forest protection tax assessment. "Timberland", as used in this Part,
15 means bona fide timberland being assessed at its use value as defined and determined
16 pursuant to R.S. 47:2301 et seq.
17 B. The tax assessment shall be entered on the tax rolls by the assessor and
18 shall be paid by the owner of such timberland to the sheriff and ex officio tax
19 collector of the parish in which the timberland is located in the same manner as
20 parish ad valorem taxes and, when collected, shall be remitted to the state treasurer
21 to be used solely as provided in this Part.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 15RS-937 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 295
1 C. After compliance with the requirements of Article VII, Section 9(B) of
2 the Constitution of Louisiana, relative to the Bond Security and Redemption Fund,
3 and prior to monies being placed in the state general fund, an amount equal to that
4 deposited as required herein shall be credited to a special fund hereby created in the
5 state treasury to be known as the "Forest Protection Fund".
6 D. The monies in the fund shall be expended by the Department of
7 Agriculture and Forestry for the acquistion acquisition and maintenance of
8 equipment for the protection of forest lands from damage by fire or other causes and
9 only in the amounts appropriated annually by the legislature. All unexpended and
10 unencumbered monies in the fund at the end of the fiscal year shall revert to the state
11 general fund Louisiana Agricultural Finance Authority. The monies in the fund shall
12 be invested by the treasurer in the same manner as monies in the state general fund,
13 and interest earned on the investment of these monies shall be credited to the state
14 general fund.
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 295 Original 2015 Regular Session Brown
Abstract: Provides for a forest protection assessment. Directs all unexpended and
unencumbered monies in the Forest Protection Fund (fund) to the Louisiana
Agricultural Finance Authority.
Present law establishes a forest protection tax. Proposed law modifies present law by
changing the tax to an assessment.
Present law establishes a forest Protection Fund. Proposed law retains present law.
Present law directs the Dept. of Agriculture and Forestry to expend monies in the fund to
acquire and maintain equipment for the protection of forest lands from damage by fire or
other causes. Proposed law retains present law.
Present law directs all unexpended and unencumbered monies in the fund to the state general
fund. Proposed law modifies present law by directing all unexpended and unencumbered
monies in the fund to the Louisiana Agricultural Finance Authority.
(Amends R.S. 3:4321)
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.