HLS 23RS-1093 REENGROSSED
2023 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 627
BY REPRESENTATIVE KERNER
SEAFOOD: Provides relative to a fee increase for the Imported Seafood Safety Fund
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 40:5.10.1(B) and 31.35(C), relative to the Imported Seafood
3 Safety Fund; to increase the fee for holders of a commercial seafood permit; to
4 provide for the collection of fees; to provide for testing of imported seafood; to
5 provide for the appropriation of monies in the fund; and to provide for related
6 matters.
7Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 40:5.10.1(B) and 31.35(C) are hereby amended and reenacted to read
9as follows:
10 §5.10.1. Imported Seafood Safety Fund
11 * * *
12 B. The monies in the fund shall be appropriated and expended solely for the
13 purpose of sampling, analysis, testing, and monitoring of raw seafood products of
14 foreign origin that are imported into Louisiana and stored on the premises of any
15 business holding a commercial seafood permit issued pursuant to R.S. 40:31.35. The
16 office of public health of the Louisiana Department of Health Louisiana State
17 University Agricultural Center shall directly administer or contract for such
18 sampling, analysis, testing, and monitoring functions. The office of public health
Page 1 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 23RS-1093 REENGROSSED
HB NO. 627
1 Louisiana State University Agricultural Center shall employ such functions to detect
2 in imported seafood products the presence of substances that are harmful to human
3 health. The state health officer Louisiana State University Agricultural Center shall
4 determine the specific types of such sampling, analysis, testing, and monitoring
5 functions to be implemented as well as the frequency and scope of these activities,
6 all of which he it may modify based upon the availability of funding for these
7 purposes. The Louisiana State University Agricultural Center shall report test results
8 to the department and the department shall be responsible for enforcement of any
9 applicable sanitary code provisions.
10 * * *
11 §31.35. Commercial seafood permit fee
12 * * *
13 C. The department shall charge and collect an imported seafood safety fee
14 of one hundred and twenty-five dollars annually from each holder of a commercial
15 seafood permit fee who sells imported seafood. The proceeds of such fee shall be
16 used for the purposes described in R.S. 40:5.10.1.
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 627 Reengrossed 2023 Regular Session Kerner
Abstract: Increases the imported seafood safety fee and designates the Louisiana State
University Agricultural Center as the entity that will perform testing of imported
seafood.
Present law appropriates funds collected from each holder of a commercial seafood permit
who sells imported seafood in La. to the La. Department of Health (LDH) to fund the testing
of imported seafood for substances harmful to human health. Present law further provides
that LDH is responsible for collecting the fees and conducting the testing of the imported
seafood.
Proposed law requires LSU Ag. Center to directly administer or outsource sampling,
analysis, testing, and monitoring functions. Proposed law further requires LSU Ag. Center
to determine the specific types of sampling, analysis, testing, and monitoring functions to
be implemented in addition to the frequency and scope of these activities.
Page 2 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 23RS-1093 REENGROSSED
HB NO. 627
Proposed law requires the LSU Ag. Center report test results to the department and specifies
that the department is responsible for enforcement of any applicable sanitary code
provisions.
Present law provides for a $100 fee on each holder of a commercial seafood permit who sells
imported seafood in La. to fund the Imported Seafood Safety Fund.
Proposed law increases the fee from $100 to $125.
(Amends R.S. 40:5.10.1(B) and 31.35(C))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Natural Resources and
Environment to the original bill:
1. Change LSU Health Sciences Center to LSU Agricultural Center as the entity
performing testing.
2. Restore LDH as the department receiving funds appropriated in the imported
seafood safety fund and receiving funds collected from the commercial seafood
permit fee.
The House Floor Amendments to the engrossed bill:
1. Make technical changes.
Page 3 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.