SSHB438 4461 3654 HOUSE SUMMARY OF SENATE AMENDMENTS HB 438 2023 Regular Session Robert Owen WILDLIFE & FISHERIES: Provides relative to oyster seed ground vessel permits Synopsis of Senate Amendments 1.Specifies that in order to harvest oysters from public grounds, a person onboard a permitted vessel must be in possession of a Public Oyster Seed Ground gear permit. 2.Provides that revenues from both the vessel permit and the gear permit must be deposited in the Oyster Resource Management Account. 3.Makes technical changes. Digest of Bill as Finally Passed by Senate Present law requires a person to be in possession of a Public Oyster Seed Ground gear license in order to harvest oysters from the public grounds. Present law further specifies that the Public Oyster Seed Ground gear license authorizes the harvest of oysters through the use of a single scraper, tongs, or by hand. Proposed law modifies present law by specifying that a person onboard a permitted vessel must be in possession of a Public Oyster Seed Ground gear permit, and that the permit is an extension of the vessel permit and allows harvest of oysters from public seed grounds. Present law specifies that the fee for the gear license is $200 per year for a resident and $800 for a nonresident. Present law further specifies that a second scraper requires an additional gear license. Present law provides that revenues from purchase of the vessel permit be deposited in the Oyster Resource Management Account. Proposed law maintains present law and specifies that gear permit revenues must also be deposited in that account. Proposed law changes the term "license" to "permit" but otherwise retains present law. (Amends R.S. 56:433.1(A)(1)) Page 1 of 1