HLS 15RS-1345 ORIGINAL
2015 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 154
BY REPRESENTATIVE WILLMOTT
ANIMALS: Creates a task force to study the collection, appropriation, and use of certain
funds for the care of Louisiana domestic animals
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2To create a task force to study the collection, appropriation, and disbursement of funds
3 received by out-of-state nonprofit animal welfare organizations for the care of
4 Louisiana domestic animals prior to, during, or after a disaster or emergency, and
5 provide the Joint Committee on Homeland Security and the Office of the Louisiana
6 Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division, with additional information to
7 ensure that the funds are fairly and adequately dispersed to Louisiana shelters and
8 humane organizations.
9 WHEREAS, the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act
10requires the director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to ensure that state and
11local emergency preparedness operational plans address the needs of individuals with
12household pets and service animals prior to, during, and following a major disaster or
13emergency; and
14 WHEREAS, the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency
15Preparedness, either directly or through authorized assignment to another state agency or
16department, identifies or establishes evacuation shelters that are in close proximity to a
17human sheltering facility designed and equipped to accept and temporarily house the
18household pets of evacuees and canine search and rescue teams; and
19 WHEREAS, the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency
20Preparedness, either directly or through authorized assignment to another state agency or
21department, develops guidelines for such "side by side" shelters which may include
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HCR NO. 154
1standards or criteria for admission to such shelters, health and safety standards, basic
2minimum animal care standards regarding nutrition, space, hygiene, and medical needs,
3protocols, and procedures for ensuring adequate sheltering, management, and veterinary
4staffing for such shelters; and
5 WHEREAS, the Legislature of Louisiana has a vested interest in ensuring monies
6received by out-of-state nonprofit animal welfare organizations for the care of in-state
7domestic animals prior to, during, or after a disaster are fairly and adequately disbursed to
8Louisiana animal shelters and humane organizations for animal disaster relief work.
9 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
10create the task force to study and evaluate the collection and appropriation of funds received
11by out-of-state nonprofit animal welfare organizations for the care of Louisiana domestic
12animals prior to, during, or after a disaster or emergency and its disbursement to Louisiana
13animal shelters for animal disaster relief work.
14 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall be composed of the
15following members:
16 (1) Two representatives of the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and
17Emergency Preparedness, designated by the director of the department.
18 (2) Two representatives of the Humane Society of Louisiana, designated by the
19executive director of the organization.
20 (3) One representative of the Louisiana Animal Welfare Commission, designated
21by the chairman of the commission.
22 (4) One representative of the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, designated
23by the commissioner of the department.
24 (5) One representative of the Coalition of Louisiana Animal Advocates, designated
25by its board of directors.
26 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall submit their findings to the
27Joint Committee on Homeland Security and the Office of the Louisiana Attorney General,
28Consumer Protection Division, no later than June 30, 2016.
29 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this task force will be staffed by the House
30Select Committee on Homeland Security for all meetings of the task force.
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HCR NO. 154
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)]
HCR 154 Original 2015 Regular Session Willmott
Creates a task force to study the collection, appropriation, and disbursement of funds
received by out-of-state nonprofit animal welfare organizations for the care of La. domestic
animals after a disaster or emergency and provide the Joint Committee on Homeland
Security and the Office of the Louisiana Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division,
with additional information to ensure that the funds are fairly and adequately dispersed to
La. shelters and humane organizations.
Provides that the committee shall submit a final report to the House of Representatives by
June 30, 2016.
Provides that the task force will be staffed by the House Select Committee on Homeland
Security.
Provides that the task force be composed of the following members:
(1)Two representatives of the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency
Preparedness, designated by the director of the department.
(2)Two representatives of the Humane Society of Louisiana, designated by the
executive director of the organization.
(3)One representative of the Louisiana Animal Welfare Commission, designated by the
chairman of the commission.
(4)One representative of the Dept. of Agriculture and Forestry, designated by the
commissioner of the department.
(5)One representative of the Coalition of Louisiana Animal Advocates, designated by
its board of directors.
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