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)] CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REP ORT DIGEST HCR 9 2016 Regular Session Thibaut Keyword and oneliner of the instrument as it left the House HUNTING: Creates the Feral Hog Management Advisory Task Force Report adopts Senate amendments to: 1. Remove members as follows: One member who is a landowner appointed by the secretary of the Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries. One member who is a licensed deer hunter appointed by the secretary of the Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries. One member appointed by the governor's executive assistant on coastal activities from the staff of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority. 2. Add members as follows: One member appointed by the dean of the LSU College of Agriculture from the faculty of the LSU College of Agriculture. One member appointed by the secretary of the Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries from three nominees submitted by the La. Assoc. of Prof. Biologists-La. Chapter of The Wildlife Society. Report amends the bill to: 1. Add a member appointed by the secretary of the Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries from three nominees submitted by the Wildlife Research Institute. Digest of the bill as proposed by the Conference Committee Creates the Feral Hog Management Advisory Task Force composed as follows: (1) One member appointed from the staff of the Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries by the secretary of the Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries. (2) One member appointed from the staff of the Dept. of Agriculture and Forestry by the commissioner of agriculture. (3) One member appointed by the secretary of the Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries from three nominations submitted by the La. Hog Hunters Association. (4) One member appointed by the secretary of the Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries from three nominations submitted by the La. Landowners Association. (5) One member appointed by the commissioner of agriculture from three nominations submitted by the La. Forestry Association. (6) One member appointed by the secretary of the Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries from three nominations submitted by the La. Quality Deer Management Association. (7) One member appointed by the dean of the LSU College of Agriculture from the faculty of the LSU College of Agriculture. (8) One member appointed by the secretary of the Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries from three nominees submitted by the La. Assoc. of Prof. Biologists-La. Chapter of The Wildlife Society. (9) One member appointed by the commissioner of agriculture from three nominations submitted by the La. Farm Bureau Federation. (10) One member appointed by the secretary of the Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries from three nominations submitted by the Association of Levee Boards of La. (11) One member appointed by the secretary of the Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries from three nominees submitted by the Wildlife Research Institute. Provides that the members of the task force serve without compensation; however, authorizes them to receive the same reimbursement of travel expenses for attending the meetings as is allowed for other state employees' travel. Provides that the task force is hereby charged with the responsibility to make recommendations with respect to issues pertaining to feral hog management efforts, including public awareness programs, to the various state agencies charged with responsibility for managing the feral hogs in this state, including the Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries, the Dept. of Agriculture and Forestry, and the legislature. Requires the task force to consider hunter-based solutions based on input from stakeholder groups. Requires the task force to submit an annual report by Feb. 1 st of each year and sunsets the task force on Jan. 1, 2020. Directs the Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries, from monies appropriated to the department, to provide an additional $360,000 to fund activities related to feral hog management, education, research, and control during FY 2016 over and above the amount expended during FY 2015.