HLS 18RS-309 ORIGINAL
2018 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 197
BY REPRESENTATIVE REYNOLDS
WILDLIFE & FISHERIES: Prohibits the importation of live cervid
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 3:3103(A), (C), and (D) and R.S. 56:20(C) and to enact R.S.
3 3:3103(E) and R.S. 56:20(D), relative to importing species of the deer family; to
4 prohibit the importation of live cervid; to provide for licenses; to provide for
5 penalties; and to provide for related matters.
6Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 3:3103(A), (C), and (D) are hereby amended and reenacted and R.S.
83:3103(E) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
9 §3103. Imported exotic Exotic deer, antelope, elk, farm-raised white tail deer, and
10 other exotic cervidae; licensing
11 A. Any person who engages in owning, raising, selling, or harvesting
12 imported exotic deer, antelope, elk, farm-raised white tail deer, and other exotic
13 cervidae, for any purpose, on farms or preserves of which he is the owner or lessee
14 shall apply to the commissioner for a license to do so.
15 * * *
16 C. No person shall import, nor shall any license permit the importation of,
17 any live cervid from outside the state.
18 D. Each license shall be valid for a period of one year and may be renewed
19 in accordance with rules adopted by the commissioner.
20 D. E. Licensees receiving a license under pursuant to this Section shall not
21 be required to comply with R.S. 56:171.
Page 1 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 18RS-309 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 197
1 Section 2. R.S. 56:20(C) is hereby amended and reenacted and R.S. 56:20(D) is
2hereby enacted to read as follows:
3 §20. Releasing game, fowl, or fish; permission; intrastate restocking; importation;
4 violations
5 * * *
6 C. No person shall import any live cervid from outside the state.
7 D. Violations of the provisions of this Section shall constitute a class four
8 violation, as provided in R.S. 56:34.
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 197 Original 2018 Regular Session Reynolds
Abstract: Prohibits the importation of live cervid.
Present law requires a license issued by the commissioner of agriculture for any person to
own, raise, sell, or harvest imported exotic deer, antelope, elk, farm-raised white tail deer,
and other exotic cervidae, for any purpose, on farms or preserves owned or leased by the
applicant. Specifies that such license is valid for one year and may be renewed.
Proposed law removes from the license the privilege of importing exotic deer, antelope, elk,
farm-raised white tail deer, and other cervidae. Further, proposed law prohibits the
importation of any live cervid from outside the state.
Authorizes the commissioner of agriculture to revoke a license or impose a civil penalty of
$1,000 for violations of proposed law. Additionally, specifies that violations of proposed
law enforced by wildlife agents of the Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries are class four
violations.
Present law provides that a class four violation carries the following penalties:
(1)First offense, a fine of not less than $400 nor more than $950 or imprisonment for
not more than 120 days, or both.
(2)Second offense, a fine of not less than $750 nor more than $999 and imprisonment
for not less than 90 nor more than 180 days.
(3)Third and subsequent offenses, a fine of not less than $1,000 nor more than $5,000
and imprisonment for not less than 180 days nor more than two years.
(4)All class four violations include forfeiture of anything seized in connection with the
violation.
(Amends R.S. 3:3103(A), (C), and (D) and R.S. 56:20(C), Adds R.S. 3:3103(E) and R.S.
56:20(D))
Page 2 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.