HLS 24RS-307 ENGROSSED
2024 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 653
BY REPRESENTATIVES VENTRELLA, MCMAHEN, AND THOMPSON
AGRICULTURE: Creates the Louisiana Commemorative Pet Stamp Program
1 AN ACT
2To enact Subpart A-1 of Part VI of Chapter 17 of Title 3 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes
3 of 1950, to be comprised of R.S. 3:2481 through 2484, relative to the Louisiana
4 Commemorative Pet Stamp Program and its purposes; to provide for definitions; to
5 provide for the design, sale, and marketing of commemorative pet stamps and prints;
6 to provide for the creation for the annual creation of commemorative pet stamps by
7 regulation; to provide for the creation of the Commemorative Pet Stamp Fund; to
8 provide relative to transfer and distribution of funds; to provide for maintenance of
9 financial records; to provide for uses and expenditures; and to provide for related
10 matters.
11Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
12 Section 1. Subpart A-1 of Part VI of Chapter 17 of Title 3 of the Louisiana Revised
13Statutes of 1950, comprised of R.S. 3:2481 through 2484, is hereby enacted to read as
14follows:
15 SUBPART A-1. LOUISIANA COMMEMORATI VE PET STAMP PROGRAM
16 §2481. Purpose
17 The primary purpose of the Louisiana Commemorative Stamp Program is to
18 generate revenue to support the spay and neuter programs of the Louisiana Pet
19 Overpopulation Advisory Council and its related projects.
Page 1 of 4
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 24RS-307 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 653
1 §2482. Definitions
2 For the purposes of this Subsection, the following definitions shall apply:
3 (1) "Council" means the Louisiana Pet Overpopulation Advisory Council.
4 (2) "Fund" means the Commemorative Pet Stamp Fund.
5 (3) "Program" means the Louisiana Commemorative Pet Stamp Program.
6 (4) "Qualified entities" means any veterinarian licensed in this state,
7 veterinary hospital, or organization qualified as a tax-exempt organization under
8 Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended.
9 §2483. Design, marketing, and sale of commemorative pet stamps and prints;
10 regulations
11 The council or its agents shall provide, by regulation for the annual creation
12 of commemorative pet stamps and prints, the manner of selection of art and artist,
13 the submission process, the manner of reproduction, distribution, marketing and sale
14 of such stamps and prints, and the criteria for its annual contests. The council may
15 sell such stamps and prints by any method and platform it deems to be most
16 beneficial to the council, including public or private auction or direct sale to an
17 individual, group, or organization. The cost for a commemorative pet stamp shall
18 be no less than fifteen dollars for residents and nonresidents. The council shall retain
19 exclusive ownership and production rights to the design for reproduction of
20 commemorative pet stamps and prints to sell to interested persons. Upon completion
21 of this process, the original artwork shall be returned to the artist.
22 §2484. Commemorative Pet Stamp Fund; distribution of funds
23 A. There is hereby created within the state treasury a fund to be known as
24 the "Commemorative Pet Stamp Fund", hereinafter referred to in this Subpart as the
25 "fund", which shall be maintained and operated by the council. Funds received by
26 the council pursuant to the Program shall be deposited immediately upon receipt into
27 the fund in the state treasury, including but not limited to donations, gifts, or grants.
28 All expenditures and allocation of monies from this fund shall be administered by
29 the council to support its spay and neuter programs and other related projects.
Page 2 of 4
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 24RS-307 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 653
1 B. The council shall maintain a checking account in a Louisiana licensed
2 bank for holding and distributing money that may be transferred from the fund to be
3 used by the council in fulfillment of its purposes. The checking account shall be
4 entitled "Commemorative Pet Stamp Fund". It shall be held in the name of the
5 chairman of the council. All checks shall require the signature of the chairman of
6 the council.
7 C. The state treasurer shall transfer monies from the fund upon receiving a
8 written order signed by the chairman of the council. If the funds are insufficient to
9 meet the full amount of the order, the state treasurer may transfer the remaining
10 balance in the fund. The transfer of monies in the fund to the council's checking
11 account shall be made within five business days of receiving the written order.
12 D. The financial records of the council shall be maintained by the chairman
13 of the council. A copy of the records, certified by the chairman, shall be provided
14 by the chairman to the legislative auditor for inspection within twenty business days
15 of the close of the state's fiscal year. The legislative auditor shall report the findings
16 of the inspection to the governor and the chairman of the council within ninety days
17 of receiving the certified copy of the records.
18 E. The council may distribute the monies annually to qualified entities as
19 provided in this Subpart. The council is authorized to use such monies in the form
20 of a grant and in the amount it deems appropriate. The council may reserve or
21 expend no more than fifteen percent of the revenues received annually pursuant to
22 the program for promotion, marketing, and administrative costs associated with such
23 program.
24 F. The monies in the fund shall be invested by the state treasurer in the same
25 manner as monies in the state general fund. Interest earned on the investment of the
26 money in the fund shall be credited to the fund after compliance with the
27 requirements of Article VII, Section 9(B) of the Constitution of Louisiana relative
28 to the Bond Security and Redemption Fund. The state treasurer shall prepare and
29 submit to the council on a quarterly basis a printed report showing the amount of
Page 3 of 4
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 24RS-307 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 653
1 money contained in the fund from all sources. All unexpended and unencumbered
2 monies in the fund at the end of the fiscal year shall remain in the fund.
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 653 Engrossed 2024 Regular Session Ventrella
Abstract: Creates the Louisiana Commemorative Pet Stamp Program.
Proposed law creates the La. Commemorative Pet Stamp Program which will be regulated
by the La. Pet Overpopulation Advisory Council. Creates a fund in the state treasury, to be
known as the Commemorative Pet Stamp Fund.
Proposed law provides that the funds would be used by the council to support its spay and
neuter programs and other related projects.
Proposed law authorizes the council to promote the commemorative pet stamps for no less
than $15 for residents and nonresidents. Authorizes the council to regulate the program as
it relates to the design, sale, and marketing of stamps and prints and the criteria for the art
and artist for its annual contest.
Proposed law provides that the council may distribute the monies annually to qualified
entities in support of their spay and neuter operations.
Proposed law authorizes the council to expend no more than 15% of the revenues received
annually pursuant for promotion, marketing, and administrative costs associated with such
program.
Proposed law requires the chairman of the council to maintain a checking account in a La.
licensed banking establishment for money transferred from the fund pursuant to the program.
Requires the chairman to maintain financial records and submit a copy of such records to the
legislative auditor for inspection within twenty business days of the close of fiscal year.
Proposed law requires the state treasurer to transfer monies from the fund upon receiving a
written order from the chairman of the council within five business days upon receipt of the
written order.
Proposed law requires unexpended and unencumbered monies in the fund at the end of the
fiscal year remain in the fund. Requires the treasurer invest the monies in the fund in the
same manner as monies in the general fund. Requires that the treasurer prepare and submit
a report to the council on a quarterly basis, showing the amount of money contained in the
fund.
(Adds R.S. 3:2481-2484)
Page 4 of 4
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.