HLS 20RS-1248 ENGROSSED
2020 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 754
BY REPRESENTATIVE DUSTIN MILLER
AGRICULTURE: Expands the powers and authority of livestock brand inspectors
1 AN ACT
2To enact R.S. 3:734(C) and (D), relative to livestock brand inspectors; to provide for the
3 expansion of powers and duties of livestock brand inspectors as commissioned peace
4 officers under certain circumstances; and to provide for related matters.
5Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
6 Section 1. R.S. 3:734(C) and (D) are hereby enacted to read as follows:
7 ยง734. Livestock brand inspectors
8 * * *
9 C. Additionally, while on special assignment during any riot, insurrection,
10 or any declared disaster or while in protection of immovable property, movable
11 property, assets, and resources of the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, any
12 commissioned livestock brand inspector shall possess all the powers and authority
13 of regular law enforcement officers of this state.
14 D. Upon the request of any regular law enforcement agency of this state,
15 livestock brand inspectors shall prevent and detect crime, apprehend criminals,
16 enforce the criminal and traffic laws of the state, keep the peace and good order in
17 the state in the enforcement of the state's police powers, and perform any other
18 related duties imposed upon them by the legislature.
Page 1 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 20RS-1248 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 754
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 754 Engrossed 2020 Regular Session Dustin Miller
Abstract: Expands the authority of livestock brand inspectors as peace officers by granting
them certain law enforcement and police powers when exercising their duties under
specific situations or by request of local law enforcement agencies.
Present law requires livestock brand inspectors to have certain powers and duties as peace
officers to perform law enforcement functions relative to rules and regulations enacted by
the La. Board of Animal Health, Part 1 of Chapter 7 of Title 3 of the La. Revised Statutes
of 1950, provisions in the La. Criminal Code related to the theft of animals, the illegal
branding or marking of animals, the disposition of strayed animals, the theft of any farm
machinery, equipment, or supplies, and with respect to any other farm-related crime.
Proposed law retains present law and expands the powers and duties of livestock brand
inspectors to add the following:
(1)While on special assignment during any riot, insurrection, or any declared disaster
or while in protection of immovable property, movable property, assets, and
resources of the Dept. of Agriculture and Forestry, any commissioned livestock
brand inspector will possess all the powers and authority of regular law enforcement
officers of this state.
(2)Upon the request of any regular law enforcement agency of this state, livestock brand
inspectors must prevent and detect crime, apprehend criminals, enforce the criminal
and traffic laws of the state, keep the peace and good order in the state in the
enforcement of the state's police powers, and perform any other related duties
imposed upon them by the legislature.
(Adds R.S. 3:734(C) and (D))
Page 2 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.