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2021 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 103
BY SENATOR HENSGENS
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
AGRICULTURE/FOREST DEPT. Creates the Louisiana Equine Promotion and Research
Program. (gov sig)
1 AN ACT
2 To enact Chapter 15-A of Title 3 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, to be comprised
3 of R.S. 3:2071 through 2077, and R.S. 36:629(T), relative to the creation of the
4 Louisiana Equine Promotion and Research Program; to create the Louisiana Equine
5 Promotion and Research Advisory Board; to provide for the composition, powers,
6 duties, and functions of the board; to authorize the commissioner of agriculture and
7 forestry to adopt rules and accept certain funds; to provide for the use of funds; to
8 provide for definitions; to provide for transfer of the board to the Department of
9 Agriculture and Forestry; and to provide for related matters.
10 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
11 Section 1. Chapter 15-A of Title 3 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950,
12 comprised of R.S. 3:2071 through 2077, is hereby enacted to read as follows:
13 CHAPTER 15-A. LOUISIANA EQUINE PROMOTION AND
14 RESEARCH PROGRAM
15 §2071. Legislative intent
16 The legislature intends by this Chapter to authorize the equine industry
17 to establish a self-governed program to support the growth and development of
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1 the industry in Louisiana.
2 §2072. Name and purpose
3 A. The name of the program created and organized by this Chapter shall
4 be the Louisiana Equine Promotion and Research Program.
5 B. The purpose of the program is to support the growth and development
6 of the equine industry in Louisiana by enhancing research, education,
7 promotion, facilities, tourism, events, and equine-related activities throughout
8 the state.
9 §2073. Definitions
10 As used in this Chapter:
11 (1) "Board" means the Louisiana Equine Promotion and Research
12 Advisory Board.
13 (2) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of agriculture and
14 forestry.
15 (3) "Equine" means all members of the genus Equus, regardless of age,
16 including horses, ponies, mules, donkeys, and zebras.
17 (4) "Equine educational program" means any event focused on
18 improving a participant's understanding of equines.
19 (5) "Equine event" means any kind of show, exposition, contest, or
20 tournament where equines are shown competitively.
21 (6) "Equine facility" means any facility used to host equine events.
22 (7) "Equine industry member" means any person with an interest and
23 background in the requirements of owning, breeding, showing, or managing
24 equines.
25 (8) "Equine performance" means any discipline within the equine
26 industry where equines are used competitively or in exhibition.
27 (9) "Equine research" means any scholarly activity conducted to collect
28 scientific data utilizing experimental design.
29 (10) "Program" means the Louisiana Equine Promotion and Research
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1 Program.
2 (11) "Promotion of the equine industry" means the development of a
3 comprehensive marketing plan for the equine industry including a website,
4 social media, and an advertising program that includes all breeds, disciplines,
5 and equine-related activities.
6 (12) "Therapeutic riding and rehabilitation center" means any
7 Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH
8 Intl.) accredited program that utilizes equine-assisted activities to contribute
9 positively to the cognitive, physical, and social well-being of individuals.
10 (13) "Trail facility" means a facility with routes planned specifically for
11 public equine use as well as necessary support areas such as camping facilities.
12 §2074. The Louisiana Equine Promotion and Research Advisory Board;
13 creation and organization
14 A. The Louisiana Equine Promotion and Research Advisory Board is
15 hereby created within the Department of Agriculture and Forestry. The board
16 shall be domiciled in Baton Rouge.
17 B. The board shall consist of eleven members appointed by the
18 commissioner as follows:
19 (1) One member who is engaged in the equine event business appointed
20 from a list of three persons nominated by the Louisiana Farm Bureau
21 Federation, Inc.
22 (2) One member who is engaged in the trail facility business appointed
23 from a list of three persons nominated by the Louisiana Farm Bureau
24 Federation, Inc.
25 (3) One member who is engaged in equine educational programs from
26 an accredited postsecondary education institution in Louisiana.
27 (4) One member engaged in the promotion of the equine industry
28 appointed from a list of three persons nominated by the Louisiana Farm Bureau
29 Federation, Inc.
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1 (5) One member who is engaged in equine research from an accredited
2 postsecondary education institution in Louisiana.
3 (6) Two members who are engaged in equine performance.
4 (7) Two members who are engage in equine racing.
5 (8) One member who is an owner or operator of a therapeutic riding and
6 rehabilitation center appointed from a list of three persons nominated by the
7 Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation, Inc.
8 (9) One member who is an owner or operator of an equine facility
9 appointed from a list of three persons nominated by the Louisiana Farm Bureau
10 Federation, Inc.
11 C.(1) The commissioner, or his designee, shall serve as an ex officio
12 member in an advisory capacity only.
13 (2) The lieutenant governor, or his designee, shall serve as an ex officio
14 member in an advisory capacity only.
15 (3) The president of Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation, Inc., or his
16 designee, shall serve as an ex officio member in an advisory capacity only.
17 D. Members shall serve at the pleasure of the commissioner and shall
18 serve terms concurrent with the term of the commissioner making the
19 appointment.
20 E. An organization authorized to make nominations for appointment to
21 the board shall submit its list of nominees within thirty days after the
22 commissioner requests the list. The commissioner shall make all appointments
23 to the board no later than thirty days after receiving the list of nominees.
24 F. A vacancy in the office of a member shall be filled in the same manner
25 as the original appointment. Persons appointed to fill vacancies shall serve for
26 the unexpired portion of the vacated term.
27 G. A majority of the members of the board shall constitute a quorum for
28 the transaction of business. All official actions of the board shall require the
29 affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the board present and voting.
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1 H. Members of the board shall receive no compensation.
2 I. The board shall meet at least twice a year and may meet at other times
3 on the call of the chairman or any four members.
4 J. The board, by a vote of a majority of the members, may expel a
5 member for good cause shown. Good cause shall include but shall not be limited
6 to three consecutive unexcused absences. The expulsion of a member creates a
7 vacancy in the office of the expelled member.
8 K. The board shall meet and organize as soon as practicable after
9 appointment of the members, and shall elect a chairman, vice chairman, and
10 secretary-treasurer from the membership of the board, whose duties shall be
11 those customarily exercised by such officers or specifically designated by the
12 board. Officers shall serve a one-year term.
13 §2075. Powers and duties
14 A. The board shall:
15 (1) Advise the commissioner on the development and maintenance of the
16 Louisiana Equine Promotion and Research Program.
17 (2) Maintain a permanent record of its proceedings.
18 (3) Submit an annual report of its activities to the Senate Committee on
19 Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development and the House
20 Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development by
21 January first of each year.
22 B. The board may:
23 (1) Provide information to governmental entities upon request on
24 subjects of concern to the equine industry and collaborate with the state or
25 federal government on the development and administration of the program.
26 (2) Cooperate with any local, state, regional, or national organization or
27 agency engaged in activities consistent with the objectives of the program.
28 C. The commissioner may:
29 (1) Adopt such rules and regulations as are necessary to administer the
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1 program. All rules and regulations shall be adopted in accordance with the
2 Administrative Procedure Act.
3 (2) Enter into contracts or other agreements to accomplish any purpose
4 authorized by this Chapter, including advertising, education, marketing,
5 promotion, research, or services.
6 §2076. Funding
7 To achieve the purposes of this Chapter, the commissioner may accept
8 and expend monies from any source, including gifts, contributions, donations,
9 state appropriations, and federal grants and may accept and use services from
10 individuals, corporations, and governmental entities.
11 §2077. Use of funds
12 Funds made available to the commissioner shall be expended to
13 effectuate the purposes of this Chapter including but not limited to the following
14 uses:
15 (1) To attract national contests, shows, and equine events to Louisiana.
16 (2) To develop and promote equine tourism through the enhancement of
17 equine trails and camping facilities.
18 (3) To support therapeutic riding and rehabilitation programs.
19 (4) To develop educational programs and disseminate educational
20 materials about the equine industry.
21 (5) To support the enhancement and maintenance of public multi-use
22 equine facilities.
23 (6) To promote activities, facilities, events, and the needs of the Louisiana
24 equine industry.
25 (7) To contract for scientific research with any accredited postsecondary
26 education institution or similar educational institution that will assist in
27 carrying out the purposes of the program, including equine health, welfare,
28 management, reproduction, nutrition, and general physiology.
29 Section 2. R.S. 36:629(T) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
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1 §629. Transfer of boards, commissions, departments, and agencies to the
2 Department of Agriculture and Forestry
3 * * *
4 T. The Louisiana Equine Promotion and Research Advisory Board (R.S.
5 3:2071 et seq.) is placed within the Department of Agriculture and Forestry and
6 shall perform and exercise its powers, duties, functions, and responsibilities as
7 provided by law.
8 Section 3. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
9 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
10 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
11 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
12 effective on the day following such approval.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Curry Lann.
DIGEST
SB 103 Engrossed 2021 Regular Session Hensgens
Proposed law establishes the La. Equine Promotion and Research Program to support the
growth and development of the equine industry in Louisiana.
Proposed law defines the following terms:
(1)"Board" means the La. Equine Promotion and Research Advisory Board.
(2)"Commissioner" means the commissioner of agriculture and forestry.
(3)"Equine" means all members of the genus Equus, regardless of age, including horses,
ponies, mules, donkeys, and zebras.
(4)"Equine educational program" means any event focused on improving a participant's
understanding of equines.
(5)"Equine event" means any kind of show, exposition, contest, or tournament where
equines are shown competitively.
(6)"Equine facility" means any facility used to host equine events.
(7)"Equine industry member" means any person with an interest and background in the
requirements of owning, breeding, showing, or managing equines.
(8)"Equine performance" means any discipline within the equine industry where
equines are used competitively or in exhibition.
(9)"Equine research" means any scholarly activity conducted to collect scientific data
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utilizing experimental design.
(10)"Program" means the La. Equine Promotion and Research Program.
(11)"Promotion of the equine industry" means the development of a comprehensive
marketing plan for the equine industry including a website, social media, and an
advertising program that includes all breeds, disciplines, and equine-related
activities.
(12)"Therapeutic riding and rehabilitation center" means any Professional Association
of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl.) accredited program that
utilizes equine-assisted activities to contribute positively to the cognitive, physical,
and social well-being of individuals.
(13)"Trail facility" means a facility with routes planned specifically for public equine use
as well as necessary support areas such as camping facilities.
Proposed law creates the La. Equine Promotion and Research Advisory Board within the
Dept. of Agriculture and Forestry.
Proposed law provides that the board shall consist of eleven members appointed by the
commissioner as follows:
(1)One member who is engaged in the equine event business appointed from a list of
three persons nominated by the La. Farm Bureau Federation, Inc.
(2)One member who is engaged in the trail facility business appointed from a list of
three persons nominated by the La. Farm Bureau Federation, Inc.
(3)One member who is engaged in equine educational programs from an accredited
postsecondary education institution in Louisiana.
(4)One member engaged in the promotion of the equine industry appointed from a list
of three persons nominated by the Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation, Inc.
(5)One member who is engaged in equine research from an accredited postsecondary
education institution in Louisiana.
(6)Two members who are engaged in equine performance.
(7)Two members who are engage in equine racing.
(8)One member who is an owner or operator of a therapeutic riding and rehabilitation
center appointed from a list of three persons nominated by the La. Farm Bureau
Federation, Inc.
(9)One member who is an owner or operator of an equine facility appointed from a list
of three persons nominated by the La. Farm Bureau Federation, Inc.
Proposed law requires the commissioner, the lieutenant governor, and the president of the
La. Farm Bureau Federation, Inc., or their designees, to serve as ex officio members in an
advisory capacity only.
Proposed law provides for the organization and administration of the board, including
provisions for nominations, the length of terms, vacancies, quorum requirements, expulsions,
meeting requirements, and the appointment of officers.
Proposed law prohibits members of the board from receiving any compensation.
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Proposed law requires the board to:
(1)Advise the commissioner on the development and maintenance of the La. Equine
Promotion and Research Program.
(2)Maintain a permanent record of its proceedings.
(3)Submit an annual report of its activities to the Senate Committee on Agriculture,
Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development and the House Committee on
Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development by January first of each
year.
Proposed law authorizes the board to:
(1)Provide information to governmental entities upon request on subjects of concern to
the equine industry and collaborate with the state or federal government on the
development and administration of the program.
(2)Cooperate with any local, state, regional, or national organization or agency engaged
in activities consistent with the objectives of the program.
Proposed law authorizes the commissioner to:
(1)Adopt rules and regulations as are necessary to administer the program.
(2)Enter into contracts or other agreements to accomplish any purpose authorized by
proposed law, including advertising, education, marketing, promotion, research, or
services.
Proposed law authorizes the commissioner to accept and expend monies from any source,
including gifts, contributions, donations, state appropriations, and federal grants, and to
accept and use services from individuals, corporations, and governmental entities.
Proposed law requires all funds made available to the commissioner be expended only to
effectuate the purposes of proposed law, including the following uses:
(1)To attract national contests, shows, and equine events to Louisiana.
(2)To develop and promote equine tourism through the enhancement of equine trails
and camping facilities.
(3)To support therapeutic riding and rehabilitation programs.
(4)To develop educational programs and disseminate educational materials on the
equine industry.
(5)To support the enhancement and maintenance of public multi-use equine facilities.
(6)To promote activities, facilities, events, and the needs of the Louisiana equine
industry.
(7)To contract for scientific research with any accredited postsecondary education
institution or similar educational institution that will assist in carrying out the
purposes of the program, including equine health, welfare, management,
reproduction, nutrition, and general physiology.
Proposed law provides for the transfer of the board to the Dept. of Agriculture and Forestry
as provided by law.
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Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Adds R.S. 3:2071 - 2077 and R.S. 36:629(T))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Agriculture, Forestry,
Aquaculture, and Rural Development to the original bill
1. Expands the definition of "trail facility" to include facilities with routes
planned specifically for public equine use.
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