RÉSUMÉ DIGEST
ACT 306 (HB 317) 2021 Regular Session Kerner
Existing law requires the La. Department of Health (LDH) to charge and collect an annual
commercial seafood permit fee from each seafood distributor and processing plant in
amounts specified in existing law.
New law requires LDH to charge and collect an annual imported seafood safety fee of $100
from each holder of a commercial seafood permit fee who sells imported seafood. Provides
that the proceeds of the fee shall be used for the purposes described in new law.
New law creates the Imported Seafood Safety Fund as a special fund in the state treasury.
Provides that the proceeds of the imported seafood safety fee established by new law shall
be deposited into the Imported Seafood Safety Fund, referred to hereafter as the "fund".
New law requires that the monies in the fund be appropriated and expended solely for the
purpose of sampling, analysis, testing, and monitoring of raw seafood products of foreign
origin that are imported into this state and stored on the premises of any commercial seafood
permit holder. Requires that LDH directly administer or contract for such sampling, analysis,
testing, and monitoring functions.
New law requires LDH to employ sampling, analysis, testing, and monitoring to detect in
imported seafood products the presence of substances that are harmful to human health.
Provides that the state health officer of the LDH office of public health shall determine the
specific types of sampling, analysis, testing, and monitoring functions to be implemented as
well as the frequency and scope of these activities. Authorizes the state health officer to
modify the frequency and scope of such activities based upon the availability of funding to
support the activities.
Effective August 1, 2021.
(Amends R.S. 40:31.35(C); Adds R.S. 40:5.10.1)