HLS 19RS-2627 ORIGINAL
2019 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 95
BY REPRESENTATIVE BISHOP
WILDLIFE & FISHERIES DEP: Creates the "Cervid (Deer)/Chronic Wasting Disease Task
Force" in the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2To create the "Cervid (Deer)/Chronic Wasting Disease Task Force" in the Department of
3 Wildlife and Fisheries.
4 WHEREAS, chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a neurodegenerative disease found
5in most deer species (cervids), including but not limited to white-tailed deer, mule deer, elk,
6red deer, moose, and caribou; and
7 WHEREAS, CWD is infectious, causes irreversible damage to brain tissue, is similar
8to mad cow disease in cattle, is always fatal to the cervid, and there is no treatment; and
9 WHEREAS, CWD has not yet been found in Louisiana, but has been documented
10in deer in Texas, Arkansas, and Mississippi; and
11 WHEREAS, Louisiana has already adopted certain management policies to contain
12the spread of CWD if it is found in Louisiana, with such policies including the establishment
13of a management zone within which there will be feeding and baiting restrictions,
14restrictions on the movement of deer body parts, and testing any deer harvested from within
15the management zone for CWD, but there may be other management techniques that should
16be evaluated, while knowing that such policies must be responsive and adaptive to situations
17as they arise; and
18 WHEREAS, in addition the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission has adopted a rule
19prohibiting the importation, transportation, or possession of any cervid carcass or parts of
20a cervid carcass, with certain exemptions for cleaned parts with no part of the spinal column
21or the head attached, or taxidermy mounts; and
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HCR NO. 95
1 WHEREAS, the introduction of CWD into Louisiana could potentially be devastating
2to the deer hunting and breeding communities in the state and the businesses that support
3those activities, so all efforts to prevent the introduction of the disease into Louisiana should
4be investigated; and
5 WHEREAS, a task force of experienced and interested parties could function in an
6advisory manner to the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries , the Department of Agriculture
7and Forestry, and the legislature as policies for management and prevention of CWD in
8Louisiana are discussed, recommended, and developed.
9 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
10create the "Cervid (Deer)/Chronic Wasting Disease Task Force" in the Department of
11Wildlife and Fisheries as follows:
12 A. There is hereby established the Cervid (Deer)/Chronic Wasting Disease
13 Task Force to study and monitor cervids and chronic wasting disease issues in the
14 state of Louisiana and to make recommendations regarding the management of
15 cervids and chronic wasting disease issues in the state.
16 B. The task force shall be composed as follows:
17 (1) The deer program leader from the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
18 (2) The state wildlife veterinarian from the Department of Wildlife and
19 Fisheries.
20 (3) The state veterinarian or the assistant state veterinarian from the
21 Department of Agriculture and Forestry.
22 (4) The assistant commissioner for the office of animal health and food
23 safety of the Department of Agriculture and Forestry.
24 (5) A representative from the Louisiana State University AgCenter's Bob R.
25 Jones Wildlife Research Institute appointed by the dean of the center.
26 (6) A large animal veterinarian with cervid experience from the Louisiana
27 State University School of Veterinary Medicine appointed by the dean of the school.
28 (7) A representative from the Quality Deer Management Association.
29 (8) A representative from the Louisiana Landowners Association.
30 (9) A representative from the Whitetails of Louisiana.
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HCR NO. 95
1 C. The members appointed pursuant to the provisions of Paragraphs (B)(1)
2 through (6) of this Section shall be nonvoting members. However, they shall be
3 considered members of the task force for determination of the number of members
4 necessary for a quorum and for establishing the presence of a quorum.
5 D. Five members of the task force shall constitute a quorum sufficient to
6 conduct meetings of the task force. The task force shall elect a chairman from its
7 membership. If the chairman is a representative of a state agency, the chair may vote
8 in the case of a tie. The task force may seek and receive assistance from universities
9 within the state in the development of methods to manage and prevent chronic
10 wasting disease in the cervids of the state of Louisiana. The members of the task
11 force shall serve without compensation; however, the task force members
12 representing state agencies may receive the same reimbursement of travel expenses
13 for attending task force meetings as is allowed for other state employees' travel.
14 E. The task force is hereby charged with the responsibility to make
15 recommendations with respect to issues pertaining to management and prevention
16 of chronic wasting disease in cervids, including public awareness programs, to the
17 various state agencies charged with the responsibility for managing the cervids in
18 this state, including the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, the Department of
19 Agriculture and Forestry, and the legislature. The task force shall seek the best
20 available science, consider hunter- and manager-based solutions, and gather input
21 from various stakeholder groups.
22 F. The Cervid (Deer)/Chronic Wasting Disease Task Force shall submit an
23 annual report to the House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment and
24 the Senate Committee on Natural Resources no later than February 1 of each year.
25 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be forwarded to the
26secretary of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, the commissioner of the Department
27of Agriculture and Forestry, the vice president of the LSU AgCenter, the dean of the LSU
28School of Veterinary Medicine, the Quality Deer Management Association, the Louisiana
29Landowners Association, and the Whitetails of Louisiana.
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HCR NO. 95
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 95 Original 2019 Regular Session Bishop
Creates the "Cervid (Deer)/Chronic Wasting Disease Task Force" in the Dept. of Wildlife
and Fisheries.
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