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 748 Reengrossed 2024 Regular Session Domangue
Abstract: Modifies the imported seafood safety fee assessed to commercial seafood processors and
distributors and provides for the use of the fees collected by the Seafood Promotion and
Marketing Board in coordination with the commissioner of agriculture and forestry.
Present law requires a commercial seafood plant or distributor to obtain an annual commercial
seafood permit to operate in the state. Specifies that the permit partially supports the inspection,
monitoring, sampling, and testing of seafood.
Present law provides that a holder of a commercial seafood permit who sells imported seafood will
be assessed an imported seafood safety fee of $100 annually.
Proposed law increases the fee from $100 to $200.
Proposed law further applies to all holders of commercial seafood permits who process or distribute
imported seafood, rather than those that sell imported seafood.
Present law requires that all fees collected from commercial seafood permit holders selling imported
seafood be deposited into the Imported Seafood Safety Fund, to be used by the La. Dept. of Health
for sampling, analyzing, testing, and monitoring of raw seafood of foreign origin that are imported
into the state and stored on the premises of any business holding a commercial seafood permit issued
by the La. Dept. of Health.
Proposed law repeals the Imported Seafood Safety Fund.
Proposed law requires that the fees be deposited into the Seafood Marketing and Promotion Fund
and used by the Seafood Marketing and Promotion Bd., in coordination with the commissioner of
agriculture and forestry, for the sampling, analyzing, testing, and monitoring of raw seafood of
foreign origin that are imported into the state and stored on the premises of any business holding a
commercial seafood permit issued by the La. Dept. of Health.
(Amends R.S. 40:31.35(C) and R.S. 56:10(B)(3); Repeals R.S. 40:5.10.1)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The House Floor Amendments to the engrossed bill: 1. Make technical changes.
2. Remove the fee based on the gross revenue of the distributor or processor.
3. Increases the imported seafood safety fee from $100 to $200.
4. Repeal the Imported Seafood Safety Fund and send the fee collected instead to the
Seafood Marketing and Promotion Fund.
5. Authorizes the Seafood Marketing and Promotion Bd. in coordination with the
commissioner of agriculture and forestry to use the fee collected under proposed law for
the sampling, analyzing, testing, and monitoring of raw seafood of foreign origin that are
imported into the state and stored on the premises of any business holding a commercial
seafood permit issued by the La. Dept. of Health.