HLS 21RS-1416 REENGROSSED
2021 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 55
BY REPRESENTATIVE ZERINGUE
CONSERVATION: Creates the Outdoor Conservation Study Group to study conservation
funding mechanisms and programs
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2To create the Outdoor Conservation Study Group, to study and make recommendations
3 regarding conservation funding mechanisms as well as conservation programs that
4 could be generated from such funding.
5 WHEREAS, Louisiana is blessed with abundant fish and wildlife species and
6globally important lands and waters which provide important habitats, improve the quality
7of drinking water, and support commercial and recreational activities; and
8 WHEREAS, Louisiana's agricultural industry includes working lands and forests that
9are essential to sustainable habitats and economic productivity; and
10 WHEREAS, Louisiana is known as "Sportsman's Paradise" because its lands and
11waters offer exceptional opportunities for both commercial and recreational activities that
12inject billions of dollars into our economy annually; and
13 WHEREAS, during the COVID-19 pandemic, visitation to outdoor areas increased
14dramatically and the mental and physical health benefits of access to such areas have been
15documented; and
16 WHEREAS, conservation and preservation of these important lands and waters will
17ensure that the value they provide is available to future generations; and
18 WHEREAS, many of Louisiana's important habitats are diminishing with inadequate
19funding and resources to conserve them; and
Page 1 of 5 HLS 21RS-1416 REENGROSSED
HCR NO. 55
1 WHEREAS, many of our neighboring states have increased investments in
2conservation funding in order to leverage other funding opportunities for important habitats
3in their state; and
4 WHEREAS, Louisiana is missing opportunities for matching funds available through
5public and private sources that could be used to conserve important lands and waters in
6urban and rural areas throughout our state; and
7 WHEREAS, many states in the Southeast region have determined that establishing
8a dedicated source of conservation funding has allowed them to greatly leverage their
9investment in conserving important habitats and thirty-eight states have similarly dedicated
10funding; and
11 WHEREAS, states have utilized different mechanisms to increase investments in
12conservation funding, resulting in both conservation of important habitats as well as
13increasing revenues to the state's economy; and
14 WHEREAS, the identification of financial opportunities and structures that would
15provide sustained funding for enhanced conservation efforts is critical to the preservation
16of fish and wildlife species and habitats, the improvement of drinking water, and the
17continued support of commercial and recreational outdoor activities; and
18 WHEREAS, establishing dedicated sources of funding and investment mechanisms
19based on a comprehensive study of potential solutions could generate tens of millions of
20dollars for conservation in Louisiana.
21 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
22create the Outdoor Conservation Study Group, whose duties shall be to study and make
23recommendations regarding conservation funding and provides that, at a minimum, the study
24shall include the following:
25 (1) Potential mechanisms to increase conservation funding for the state of Louisiana.
26 (2) Potential programs for which such funds could serve as match.
27 (3) The purpose for which the conservation funds may be used.
28 (4) An administrative structure for the funds, including criteria for project selection
29and method of disbursement.
Page 2 of 5 HLS 21RS-1416 REENGROSSED
HCR NO. 55
1 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study group shall be composed of the
2following members:
3 (1) The governor or his designee.
4 (2) The executive assistant for the Governor's Office of Coastal Activities or his
5designee.
6 (3) The commissioner of administration or his designee.
7 (4) The secretary of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries or his designee.
8 (5) The secretary of the Department of Natural Resources or his designee.
9 (6) The commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Forestry or his designee.
10 (7) The lieutenant governor or his designee.
11 (8) One member appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives.
12 (9) One member appointed by the president of the Senate.
13 (10) The chairman of the House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment
14or his designee.
15 (11) The chairman of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources or his designee.
16 (12) Three members selected by the governor from nonprofit conservation
17organizations having offices in Louisiana and engaged in conservation efforts in the state.
18 (13) One member from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
19 (14) One member from the United States Department of Agriculture, Natural
20Resource Conservation Service.
21 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members from the United States Fish and
22Wildlife Service and the United State Department of Agriculture shall be nonvoting
23members.
24 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the member appointed by the speaker of the
25House of Representatives shall call the first meeting of the study group at which meeting the
26study group shall select a chair and other officers it deems necessary.
27 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Louisiana office of The Nature Conservancy
28is hereby requested to provide any necessary staff support to the study group.
Page 3 of 5 HLS 21RS-1416 REENGROSSED
HCR NO. 55
1 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study group shall submit a report with its
2recommendations to the House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment and the
3Senate Committee on Natural Resources by February 1, 2022.
4 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
5governor of the state of Louisiana, the executive assistant for the Governor's Office of
6Coastal Activities, the commissioner of administration, the secretary of the Department of
7Wildlife and Fisheries, the secretary of the Department of Natural Resources, the Louisiana
8office of The Nature Conservancy, the commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and
9Forestry, the lieutenant governor, the principal deputy director of the United States Fish and
10Wildlife Service, and the acting chief of the Natural Resource Conservation Service.
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 55 Reengrossed 2021 Regular Session Zeringue
Creates the Outdoor Conservation Study Group to study and make recommendations
regarding conservation funding mechanisms as well as conservation programs that could be
generated from such funding.
Provides for the following members:
(1)The governor or his designee.
(2)The executive assistant for the Governor's Office of Coastal Activities or his
designee.
(3)The commissioner of administration or his designee.
(4)The secretary of the Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries or his designee.
(5)The secretary of the Dept. of Natural Resources or his designee.
(6)The commissioner of the Dept. of Agriculture and Forestry or his designee.
(7)The lieutenant governor or his designee.
(8)One member appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives.
(9)One member appointed by the president of the Senate.
(10)The chairman of the House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment or his
designee.
(11)The chairman of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources or his designee.
Page 4 of 5 HLS 21RS-1416 REENGROSSED
HCR NO. 55
(12)Three members selected by the governor from nonprofit conservation organizations
having offices in La. and engaged in conservation efforts in the state.
(13)One member from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
(14)One member from the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Natural Resource Conservation
Service.
Provides that the members from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Dept. of
Agriculture are nonvoting members.
Provides that the member appointed by the speaker shall call the first meeting. Provides that
the study group shall select a chair and other officers at the first meeting. Requests the La.
office of The Nature Conservancy to provide any necessary staff support to the study group.
Provides for the submission of a report to the House Committee on Natural Resources and
Environment and the Senate Committee on Natural Resources by Feb. 1, 2022.
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on House and
Governmental Affairs to the engrossed resolution:
1. Specifies that the member appointed by the speaker of the House of
Representatives shall call the first meeting and at which meeting the study group
shall select a chair and other officers it deems necessary.
2. Requests the La. office of The Nature Conservancy to provide any necessary
staff support to the study group.
Page 5 of 5