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 364 Engrossed 2019 Regular Session McFarland
Abstract: Reinstates provisions of prior law requiring prompt payment for forest products and
changes terminology.
Prior law required a person who acquired forest products to pay the landowner in full within 30 days
of receipt of payment for selling the products. Proposed law restores prior law.
Prior law required the landowner to send written notice demanding payment after the 30-day window
and allowed the offender 10 additional days to make the payment in full before facing criminal
penalties. Proposed law restores prior law.
Prior law provided that the criminal penalties are dependent upon the value of forest products the
offender took without paying the landowner. Proposed law restores prior law.
Proposed law changes the designation of prior law from Title 14 to Title 3 to include proposed law
with other forestry protection provisions.
Proposed law makes a modification to prior law by changing references to the phrase "person who
acquires" and the terms "offender" and "buyer" to "harvester" and adds a definition for "harvester".
Prior law provided that when the buyer violated prior law by a number of distinct acts, the aggregate
of the amount of the forest products determined the grade of the violation. Proposed law does not
restore prior law.
(Adds R.S. 3:4278.4)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Agriculture, Forestry,
Aquaculture, and Rural Development to the original bill:
1. Make technical changes.