ENROLLED
ACT No. 442
2024 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 661
BY REPRESENTATIVE BRYANT
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 56:302.9(A)(1) and (2) and (J)(1) and to enact R.S.
3 56:301.10(B)(10) and (11), relative to charter boat fishing guides; to require
4 commercial marine insurance for charter boat fishing guides; to provide for
5 penalties; to provide for the membership of the Louisiana Finfish Task Force; and
6 to provide for related matters.
7 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 56:302.9(A)(1) and (2) and (J)(1) are hereby amended and reenacted
9 and R.S. 56:301.10(B)(10) and (11) are hereby enacted to read as follows:
10 §301.10. Louisiana Finfish Task Force
11 * * *
12 B. The task force shall be composed as follows:
13 * * *
14 (10) One member appointed by the governor to be selected from a list of two
15 nominees submitted by the Louisiana Charter Boat Association.
16 (11) One member appointed by the governor to be selected from a list of two
17 nominees submitted by the Women's Southern Fisheries Alliance.
18 * * *
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HB NO. 661 ENROLLED
1 §302.9. Charter boat fishing guide license; nonresident fee
2 A.(1)(a) No person shall act as nor represent himself to be a saltwater charter
3 boat fishing guide unless that person possesses a valid state charter boat fishing
4 guide license, a valid captain's license issued by the United States Coast Guard, proof
5 of liability commercial marine insurance, and a valid state recreational fishing
6 license that grants fishing privileges appropriate for his charter activity. In addition,
7 any person acting as a saltwater charter boat fishing guide who is in charge of the
8 operation of a vessel shall have his required licenses and proof of liability
9 commercial marine insurance on his person while on the water. It shall not be a
10 violation of this Section for a person to represent himself as a charter boat fishing
11 guide if that person held a valid license during the previous thirty days but has not
12 renewed the license.
13 (b) No person shall act as or represent himself to be a freshwater charter boat
14 fishing guide unless that person possesses a valid state charter boat fishing guide
15 license, proof of liability commercial marine insurance, and a valid state recreational
16 fishing license that grants fishing privileges appropriate for his charter activity. In
17 addition, any person acting as a freshwater charter boat fishing guide who is in
18 charge of the operation of a vessel shall have his required licenses and proof of
19 liability commercial marine insurance on his person while on the water. It shall not
20 be a violation of this Section for a person to represent himself as a charter boat
21 fishing guide if that person held a valid license during the previous thirty days but
22 has not renewed the license. The department shall provide written notification to the
23 holder of a license issued pursuant to this Subparagraph that the holder may be
24 subject to other requirements of law, including holding a valid captain's license
25 issued by the United States Coast Guard.
26 (2) The liability commercial marine insurance required by this Subsection
27 shall be written by an insurance company with at least an A- rating in the latest
28 printing of the A.M. Best's Key Rating Guide and in a sufficient amount to protect
29 the public as determined by the commission.
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are additions. HB NO. 661 ENROLLED
1 J.(1) In addition to any other penalty provided for in the this Section, for any
2 person convicted of a first offense of violating Subsection A or B of this Section, the
3 offender shall pay a fine of no less than one thousand dollars to the Department of
4 Wildlife and Fisheries. For for any person convicted of a second offense of violating
5 Subsection A or B of this Section, the offender may only operate a vessel that
6 employs a vessel monitoring system for the three years after the date of the
7 conviction. For any person convicted of a third or subsequent offense of violating
8 Subsection A or B of this Section, the offender may only operate a vessel that
9 employs a vessel monitoring system for ten years after the date of the conviction.
10 * * *
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
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are additions.