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)]
HB 547 Original 2023 Regular Session Riser
Abstract: Provides procedures for the La. Used Motor Vehicle Commission to regulate catalytic
converter dealer licenses and catalytic converter purchases and sales.
Proposed law changes the following:
(1)"Catalytic Converter Purchasers" to "Catalytic Converter Transfers"
(2)"Louisiana Catalytic Converter Sales Law" to "Louisiana Catalytic Converter Transfer Law"
(3)"catalytic converter purchaser" to "catalytic converter dealer"
(4)"catalytic converter business license" to "catalytic converter dealer license"
Present law provides that a licensed person may buy detached catalytic converters.
Proposed law provides that a licensed person may purchase or sell used or detached catalytic
converters.
Present law defines "person".
Proposed law retains present law and expands the definition of "person" to include a natural person,
juridical person, firm, association, trust, and transient merchant.
Present law requires a person to be licensed in order to sale or purchase catalytic converters.
Proposed law retains present law and requires that a person also have either an occupational license
if it is required in the jurisdiction where the business is located or a transient merchant license.
Proposed law provides that the La. Used Motor Vehicle Commission ("commission") may deny an
application for licensure for certain reasons.
Proposed law provides that the commission may revoke or suspend a license, issue a fine or penalty,
or enjoin a catalytic converter dealer under certain circumstances.
Proposed law provides that the commission is required to notify each license applicant of the action
or application decision taken by the commission. Proposed law provides that the commission shall hold review of an application denial if an applicant
properly requests a hearing in writing and in a reasonable time. Proposed law further provides
procedures for notices issued by the commission and hearings held by the commission.
Proposed law provides for appeal procedures for applicants or licensees upon denial, revocation or
suspension of a license.
Proposed law authorizes the commission to institute injunctive actions or impose civil penalties for
certain violations.
Proposed law provides that a business location of a catalytic converter dealer is considered
abandoned under certain circumstances. Proposed law further provides that the license of the dealer
may be revoked without a hearing if a request for a hearing is not made in a timely matter as
provided in proposed law.
Present law provides for an exemption of the Converter Sales Law to a person that is in possession
of one used catalytic converter if the person has documentation that the catalytic converter was
acquired.
Proposed law provides that a person is exempt if the person owns the vehicle from which the used
catalytic converter was detached.
Present law requires an unlicensed person to provide certain documentation if the person is in
possession of a catalytic converter.
Proposed law adds that the person must also provide the year, make, model and VIN of the vehicle
from which the catalytic converter was detached.
Present law provides certain criminal penalties for an unlicensed catalytic purchaser. Present law
further provides that the amount of the fee and duration of the imprisonment increases with each
subsequent violation, and each catalytic convertor purchased in violation of proposed law constitutes
a separate violation.
Proposed law retains present law and adds that a catalytic converter seller or anyone who provides
false information or documentation in violation of present law will be subject to criminal penalty.
(Amends R.S. 37:1891, 1892(2) and (4), 1893(A), (B), (C)(1) and (4)(a), (d), and (e), and (E),
1894(2), 1895(A)(intro. para.) and (C), and 1896(A) and (D); Adds R.S. 37:1893.1-1893.6) and
1895(A)(7)