ENROLLED
ACT No. 443
2024 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 684
BY REPRESENTATIVES RISER, COX, DEWITT, FIRMENT, FISHER, LACOMBE,
THOMPSON, AND TURNER
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 47:463.45(C)(1) and R.S. 56:10(B)(9) and 291 and to enact R.S.
3 56:103(D), 116.3(I), 3002(A)(6), and 3007(H), relative to bear hunting; to provide
4 for the use of funds in the Conservation Fund black bear account; to provide relative
5 to bear hunting licenses; to establish fees for bear hunting licenses; to authorize the
6 Wildlife and Fisheries Commission to create a bear harvest permit lottery; to
7 authorize the secretary of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to auction one
8 bear harvest permit; to establish a lottery application fee; to dedicate funds to the
9 black bear account; to allow the feeding of wild bears for purposes of baiting; and
10 to provide for related matters.
11 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
12 Section 1. R.S. 47:463.45(C)(1) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
13 §463.45. Special prestige license plates; Louisiana black bear
14 * * *
15 C.(1) Except as provided in Paragraph (2) of this Subsection, the revenues
16 realized from the additional twenty-six dollar fee imposed by Subsection B of this
17 Section shall be remitted to the state as provided by law. The state treasurer shall
18 place an amount equal to those revenues in the Conservation Fund, after complying
19 with the requirements of R.S. 56:10(B), and shall credit that amount to the "black
20 bear account" which is created within the Conservation Fund through the provisions
Page 1 of 4
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HB NO. 684 ENROLLED
1 of R.S. 56:10(B)(9). The funds raised from the license plate sales shall be used
2 solely for nongame purposes.
3 * * *
4 Section 2. R.S. 56:10(B)(9) and 291 are hereby amended and reenacted and R.S.
5 56:103(D), 116.3(I), 3002(A)(6), and 3007(H) are hereby enacted to read as follows:
6 §10. Annual report to governor; estimate of proposed expenditures; particular funds;
7 limitations on purposes for use of monies in particular funds and accounts;
8 warrants; vouchers; surplus funds
9 * * *
10 B.
11 * * *
12 (9) There is hereby created within the Conservation Fund a special account
13 known as the "black bear account". The revenues shall be subject to the same
14 requirements as provided for other revenues placed in the Conservation Fund in
15 Paragraph (1) of this Subsection. The funds in this account shall be used solely for
16 the purpose of managing, conserving, restoring, and enhancing black bear habitat in
17 Louisiana.
18 * * *
19 §103. License required
20 * * *
21 D. In order to hunt, take, possess, or transport black bear in Louisiana, in
22 addition to a basic hunting license, a resident shall be required to purchase and have
23 on his person a black bear hunting license.
24 * * *
25 §116.3. Special provisions applicable to deer and bear; times and methods of taking;
26 penalties
27 * * *
28 I.(1) No person shall hunt or take bear without a bear hunting license and a
29 bear harvest permit. The commission shall promulgate and adopt rules and
Page 2 of 4
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HB NO. 684 ENROLLED
1 regulations to establish a lottery for the selection and issuance of bear harvest
2 permits. There shall be a fifty dollar nonrefundable entry fee for bear harvest permit
3 lottery applications. Bear harvest permits and tags may be issued to successful and
4 eligible lottery applicants at no cost.
5 (2) In addition to the lottery provided for in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection,
6 the secretary may provide for the issuance of a single bear harvest permit to be
7 subject to auction by the department, or by an incorporated nonprofit organization
8 dedicated to the conservation of fish and wildlife resources, as determined by the
9 department, which may be sold to the highest eligible bidder.
10 (3) All revenues derived from lottery applications and auction proceeds shall
11 be deposited into the black bear account created within the Conservation Fund
12 through the provisions of R.S. 56:10(B)(9) and be used exclusively for managing,
13 conserving, restoring, and enhancing black bear in Louisiana.
14 * * *
15 §291. Feeding of wild bears prohibited
16 No person shall intentionally feed or attempt to feed a wild bear. The
17 provisions of this Section shall not apply to baiting of bears by properly licensed
18 hunters in possession of a bear harvest permit and shall not prohibit legal baiting of
19 deer. The first violation of this Section by any person shall result in the issuance of
20 a warning ticket only. Any subsequent violation by the same person shall be a class
21 two violation. The Wildlife and Fisheries Commission is authorized to promulgate,
22 under the Administrative Procedure Act, rules and regulations for the administration
23 and enforcement of this Section.
24 * * *
25 §3002. Recreational hunting licenses; fees
26 A. Resident licenses:
27 * * *
28 (6) Bear hunting license $25.00/year
29 * * *
Page 3 of 4
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HB NO. 684 ENROLLED
1 §3007. Dedication of license revenue
2 * * *
3 H. All funds received from the sale of bear hunting licenses shall be
4 deposited into the black bear account created within the Conservation Fund through
5 the provisions of R.S. 56:10(B)(9).
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
Page 4 of 4
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.