HLS 20RS-749 ORIGINAL
2020 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 61
BY REPRESENTATIVE RISER
WILDLIFE & FISHERIES: Urges and requests the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
to review the restrictions on possession of exotic and invasive species
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2To urge and request the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to review the regulations
3 governing the possession and ownership of certain exotic and invasive species and
4 evaluate the advisability of including additional species in those prohibitions.
5 WHEREAS, Louisiana has one of the most diverse and vast natural habitats in the
6world; and
7 WHEREAS, many exotic nonindigenous and potentially invasive species thrive in
8Louisiana to the peril of native species; and
9 WHEREAS, Louisiana's ecosystem is fragile and should be protected; and
10 WHEREAS, R.S. 56:6 et seq. requires the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries,
11Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission to promulgate rules and regulations to control
12the importation and private possession of nonindigenous constrictors in excess of twelve feet
13in length; venomous snakes; nonhuman primates; big exotic cats including but not limited
14to tigers, lions, leopards, jaguars, cheetahs, and hybrids resulting from cross-breeding of
15such cats; and
16 WHEREAS, the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries should examine the
17advisability of expanding its rules regulating the possession and ownership of certain exotic
18and invasive species to include members of the monitor lizard family, other invasive lizard
19species, and any other potentially invasive species that originate in other parts of the world
20with a similar climate and habitat to that of Louisiana.
Page 1 of 2 HLS 20RS-749 ORIGINAL
HCR NO. 61
1 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
2urge and request the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to review the regulation
3governing the possession and ownership of certain exotic and invasive species and evaluate
4the advisability of including additional species in those prohibitions.
5 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
6secretary of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
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 61 Original 2020 Regular Session Riser
Urges and requests the Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries to review the regulation governing
the possession and ownership of certain exotic and invasive species and evaluate the
advisability of including additional species in those prohibitions.
Page 2 of 2