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 661 Original 2024 Regular Session Bryant
Abstract: Requires freshwater charter boat fishing guides to have a United States Coast Guard
captain's license in addition to the state charter boat fishing guide license and establishes a
fine for a first offense violation of charter fishing licensing requirements.
Present law requires charter boat fishing guides to have a charter boat fishing guide license.
Present law further requires that saltwater charter boat fishing guides also have a U.S. Coast Guard
captain's license and that the Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries provided written notice to freshwater
charter boat fishing guides that they may be subject to other legal requirements, including holding
a U.S. Coast Guard captain's license.
Proposed law requires freshwater charter boat fishing guides to also have a U.S. Coast Guard
captain's license and removes the requirement that the Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries provide them
written notice of the requirement.
Present law provides that a person violating the license requirements for charter fishing for a second
time will only be allowed to operate a vessel with a monitoring system for three years, and for a third
time will only be allowed to operate a vessel with a monitoring system for 10 years.
Proposed law adds that the penalty for a first offense violation of the charter fishing licensing
requirements is a fine of up to $1000.
(Amends R.S. 56:302.9(A)(1)(b) and (3) and (J)(1))