HLS 23RS-366 ENGROSSED
2023 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 3
BY REPRESENTATIVES BEAULLIEU AND BOURRIAQUE
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
WILDLIFE/REFUGES: Exempts users of the Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge and the Marsh
Island Wildlife Refuge from the requirement of completion of a self-clearing permit
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2To amend the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission rule, LAC 76:III.111(B), which
3 provides that a self-clearing permit is required for all activities on department-
4 administered land, including wildlife refuges.
5 WHEREAS, the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission has historically
6required all persons utilizing Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) to complete a self-
7clearing permit providing information about their activities on the property; and
8 WHEREAS, self-clearing permits are a valuable tool used by the Department of
9Wildlife and Fisheries to manage WMAs, leverage federal grants, and to provide the best
10services and opportunities for the WMA users; and
11 WHEREAS, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, office of wildlife
12has recently undergone a reorganization to place management of all department managed
13properties including WMAs, refuges, and conservation areas under the same section for the
14purpose of establishing a more uniform and cohesive management of the department's
15properties; and
16 WHEREAS, as a result of the reorganization, in June of 2022 the Louisiana Wildlife
17and Fisheries Commission promulgated a final rule to extend the requirement for self-
18clearing permits to users of all department-administered lands, including wildlife refuges and
19wildlife conservation areas in addition to WMAs; and
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1 WHEREAS, wildlife refuges provide critical habitat designed for the preservation
2and protection of wildlife and aquatic life and recreational activities are generally limited to
3fishing, and non-consumptive uses; and
4 WHEREAS, the self-clearing permit requirement on the department-administered
5lands of the Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge and the Marsh Island Refuge is found to place a
6burden on recreational users of the land that exceeds the data collection and management
7benefits that the permits provide to the department.
8 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Legislature of Louisiana that LAC
976:III.111(B) is hereby amended to read as follows:
10 ยง111. Access and Permits
11 * * *
12 B. Self-Clearing Permits. A self-clearing permit is required for all activities
13 (hunting, fishing, hiking, bird watching, sightseeing, etc.) on department-
14 administered lands including wildlife refuges, except for the Rockefeller Wildlife
15 Refuge and the Marsh Island Wildlife Refuge, and wildlife management and habitat
16 conservation areas. The self-clearing permit will consist of two portions: check in,
17 check out. All persons must either check in/check out electronically through the
18 department WMA/public land self-clearing permit app/Internet Web Portal or obtain
19 a self-clearing permit from an information station. Users may check in one day in
20 advance of use. Users that check in by electronic means are required to possess
21 proof of check in and must check out within 24 hours. If utilizing paper self-clearing
22 permits from an information station, check in portion must be completed and put in
23 a permit box before each day's activity. The check out portion must be carried by
24 each person while on the properties and must be completed and put in a permit box
25 immediately upon exiting the properties.
26 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
27office of the state register and to the secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and
28Fisheries.
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1 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the office of the state register is hereby directed
2to have the amendments to LAC 76:III:111(B) printed and incorporated into the Louisiana
3Administrative Code.
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 3 Engrossed 2023 Regular Session Beaullieu
Abstract: Exempts users of the Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge and the Marsh Island Refuge
from the requirement of completion of a self-clearing permit.
Amends LAC 706:III:111(B) of the rules and regulations promulgated by the La. Wildlife
and Fisheries Commission, relative to self-clearing permits required for all activities on
department-administered lands, including wildlife refuges. Modifies the administrative rule
to remove the requirement of self-clearing permits on the wildlife refuges of the Rockefeller
Wildlife Refuge and the Marsh Island Wildlife Refuge.
Directs the office of the state register to print the amendment to LAC 76:III.111(B) in the
La. Administrative Code.
(Amends LAC 76:III.111(B))
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