HLS 24RS-830 ORIGINAL
2024 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 6
BY REPRESENTATIVE VENTRELLA
WILDLIFE & FISHERIES: Provides relative to Wildlife Rehabilitation Program rules
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2To amend the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries rules LAC 76:V.131(E)(4), (5), and (6)
3 and (F)(7), which provide relative to the Wildlife Rehabilitation Program, to provide
4 for requirements for a Wildlife Rehabilitation Program permit, to provide general
5 rules for the Wildlife Rehabilitation program, to provide for requests for extension,
6 and to direct the office of the state register to print the amendments in the Louisiana
7 Administrative Code.
8 WHEREAS, the current permit process for the Wildlife Rehabilitation Permit
9Program is overly burdensome, making it too difficult to become a permitted rehabilitator;
10and
11 WHEREAS, there is a shortage of licensed rehabilitators in the state of Louisiana,
12burdening current rehabilitators past capacity; and
13 WHEREAS, the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Wildlife Rehabilitation Permit
14Program regulates the rehabilitation of injured or orphaned wildlife in Louisiana; and
15 WHEREAS, you must have a wildlife rehabilitation permit to rehabilitate wildlife
16in Louisiana; and
17 WHEREAS, to obtain a permit you must have knowledge of wildlife behavior,
18habitat, diet and other species specific needs; and
19 WHEREAS, completion of the Wildlife Rehabilitation Permit Basic Skills Course
20is required for individuals to receive a wildlife rehabilitation permit; and
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1 WHEREAS, the Wildlife Rehabilitation Permit Basic Skills Course is only offered
2annually; and
3 WHEREAS, offering the course online will make it more readily available to the
4general public who may wish to obtain a wildlife rehabilitation permit; and
5 WHEREAS, requiring verification of access to veterinary services can be overly
6burdensome on a person interested in the rehabilitation of wildlife; and
7 WHEREAS, allowing for inspections of housing facilities can be overly intrusive on
8a person interested in the rehabilitation of wildlife; and
9 WHEREAS, the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is a self-funded department
10and the requirement of a fee for licensure offsets the cost for the rehabilitation program.
11 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Legislature of Louisiana that LAC
1276:V.131(E)(4), (5), and (6) and (F)(7) are hereby amended to read as follows:
13 ยง131. Wildlife Rehabilitation Program
14 * * *
15 E. Permit Requirements
16 * * *
17 4. Prior to licensure or renewal, all applicants must show proof of completion
18 of a LDWF-approved wildlife rehabilitation course and must be currently certified
19 under the approved organization's guidelines. This course shall be provided by
20 LDWF and be readily available online. Completion of this course will be contingent
21 upon completion of an interactive test. This course shall be subject to a required fee
22 of one hundred twenty-five dollars. Failure to provide proof of successful
23 completion of the course and subsequent continuing education requirements will
24 result in non-licensure or revocation of the WRP.
25 5. All applicants must provide verification of having shall agree to have
26 access to veterinary services by submitting a Statement of Veterinary Support Form
27 provided by LDWF.
28 6. All facilities where animals will be housed or maintained will be inspected
29 by LDWF prior to receiving a WRP. All applicants shall have a suitable habitat for
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1 any animals housed and shall report the specifications of the habitat to the
2 department.
3 F. General Rules
4 * * *
5 7. Request for an Extension
6 a. WRP holders shall not possess a non-migratory bird for more than 90
7 days, other injured wildlife longer than 45 days, or other orphaned wildlife no longer
8 than required to prepare the animal for release, but not to exceed 120 days, except
9 that a permit holder may submit a written request for extension of possession if:
10 i. the specified animal will likely be releasable after the time frame listed
11 above but is currently non-releasable because of biological reasons; or
12 ii. a licensed veterinarian determines, due to medical reasons, the animal
13 requires additional rehabilitation time. This provision shall not apply if the animal
14 is otherwise nonreleasable.
15 * * *
16 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
17office of the state register.
18 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the office of the state register is hereby directed
19to have the amendments to LAC 76:V.131(E)(4), (5), and (6) and (F)(7) printed and
20incorporated into the Louisiana Administrative Code.
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)]
HCR 6 Original 2024 Regular Session Ventrella
Present LAC 76:V.131 provides for the Wildlife Rehabilitation Program permitting and
operations. Present LAC 76:V.131(E)(4) provides for permit requirements for the Wildlife
Rehabilitation Program, and requires completion of a course certified by the La. Dept. of
Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF). Proposed law requires that the course be readily available
online, with completion subject to an interactive test, and a $125 fee requirement.
Present LAC 76:V.131(E)(5) requires applicants to have verification of having access to
veterinary services by submitting a Statement of Veterinary Support Form provided by the
LDWF. Proposed law requires an applicant to agree to have access to veterinary services.
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Present LAC 76:V.131(E)(6) allows for inspection of an applicant's animal housing facilities
by the LDWF. Proposed law provides that an applicant shall have a suitable housing for the
animal and shall report the habitat specifications to the department.
Present LAC 76:V.131(F)(7)(a) prohibits wildlife permit holders from possessing the
following: (1) non-migratory birds for more than 90 days; (2) other injured wildlife for more
than 45 days; and (3) other orphaned wildlife longer than required for release, not to exceed
120 days. Additionally, provides for a written request for extension of possession if the
animal is currently nonreleasable but will likely be releasable after the listed time frame, or
if a veterinarian determines that the animal requires additional rehabilitation time. Proposed
law removes the provisions of present law relative to the written request for extension and
provides that the hold limitations do not apply if the animal is otherwise nonreleasable.
(Amends LAC 76:V.131(E)(4), (5), and (6) and (F)(7))
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