ENROLLED
2024 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 653
BY REPRESENTATIVES VENTRELLA, MCMAHEN, AND THOMPSON
1 AN ACT
2 To enact Subpart B of Part VI of Chapter 17 of Title 3 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of
3 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 annual creation of commemorative pet stamps by regulation; to
7 provide for the creation of the Commemorative Pet Stamp Fund; to provide relative
8 to transfer and distribution of funds; to provide for maintenance of financial records;
9 to provide for uses and expenditures; and to provide for related matters.
10 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
11 Section 1. Subpart B of Part VI of Chapter 17 of Title 3 of the Louisiana Revised
12 Statutes of 1950, comprised of R.S. 3:2481 through 2484, is hereby enacted to read as
13 follows:
14 SUBPART B. LOUISIANA COMMEMORATI VE PET STAMP PROGRAM
15 §2481. Purpose
16 The primary purpose of the Louisiana Commemorative Stamp Program is to
17 generate revenue to support the spay and neuter programs of the Louisiana Pet
18 Overpopulation Advisory Council and its related projects.
19 §2482. Definitions
20 For the purposes of this Subpart, the following definitions shall apply:
21 (1) "Council" means the Louisiana Pet Overpopulation Advisory Council.
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1 (2) "Fund" means the Commemorative Pet Stamp Fund.
2 (3) "Program" means the Louisiana Commemorative Pet Stamp Program.
3 (4) "Qualified entities" means any veterinarian licensed in this state,
4 veterinary hospital, or organization qualified as a tax-exempt organization under
5 Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended.
6 §2483. Design, marketing, and sale of commemorative pet stamps and prints;
7 regulations
8 The council or its agents shall provide by regulation for the annual creation
9 of commemorative pet stamps and prints, the manner of selection of art and artist,
10 the submission process, the manner of reproduction, distribution, marketing and sale
11 of such stamps and prints, and the criteria for its annual contests. The council may
12 sell such stamps and prints by any method and platform it deems to be most
13 beneficial to the council, including public or private auction or direct sale to an
14 individual, group, or organization. The cost for a commemorative pet stamp shall
15 be no less than fifteen dollars for residents and nonresidents. The council shall retain
16 exclusive ownership and production rights to the design for reproduction of
17 commemorative pet stamps and prints to sell to interested persons. Upon completion
18 of this process, the original artwork shall be returned to the artist.
19 §2484. Commemorative Pet Stamp Fund; distribution of funds
20 A. There is hereby created in the state treasury as a special fund the
21 Commemorative Pet Stamp Fund. Monies shall be deposited into the fund by the
22 state treasurer after compliance with the requirements of Article VII, Section 9(B)
23 of the Constitution of Louisiana relative to the Bond Security and Redemption Fund.
24 In addition to revenues otherwise provided in this Section, the source of monies
25 deposited into the fund shall be any monies appropriated or transferred to the fund,
26 monies collected by the council pursuant to the program, and any monies designated
27 for the fund and received by the state treasurer from donations, gifts, or grants for the
28 program. Monies in the fund shall be invested in the same manner as monies in the
29 state general fund and unexpended and unencumbered monies in the fund at the end
30 of the fiscal year shall remain in the fund. Interest earned on the investment of
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1 monies in the fund shall be deposited in and credited to the fund. The state treasurer
2 shall prepare and submit to the council on a quarterly basis a printed report showing
3 the balance of the fund.
4 B. Monies in the fund shall be used solely by the council for programs and
5 purposes as provided in this Subpart. The council may distribute monies from the
6 fund to qualified entities and may award such monies in the form of a grant and in
7 the amount it deems appropriate. The council may use up to fifteen percent of the
8 revenues received annually pursuant to the program for promotion, marketing, and
9 administrative costs associated with the program.
10 Section 2. The Louisiana State Law Institute is hereby authorized and directed to
11 redesignate R.S. 3:2471 through 2476 as "SUBPART A. ADOPTION AND
12 STERILIZATION"
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
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