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)]
HR 119 Original 2024 Regular Session Mike Johnson
Authorizes and requests the chairman House Committee of Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and
Rural Development to appoint a subcommittee, entitled the La. Emergency Beetle Committee, to
study and recommend rules and actions to address forest devastation caused by beetle infestation,
problems related to dead trees on private properties near power lines and other issues and effects on
public right-of-ways caused by the danger and effects of such dead trees, and to consider whether
certain regulations by the Dept. of Environmental Quality may be suspended during emergency
situations caused by natural disasters.
Requires the chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural
Development to appoint the members of the subcommittee.
Requires the state representative for House District 27 to serve as the chairman of the subcommittee.
Requires the subcommittee to solicit the input, recommendations, and advice of the following
entities:
(1)The La. Department of Agriculture and Forestry.
(2)The La. Public Service Commission.
(3)The La. Forestry Association.
(4)The Police Jury Association of La.
(5)The La. Municipal Association.
(6)The La. Department of Environmental Quality.
(7) The La. Division of Administration.
(8) The office of the governor.
(9) The La. Loggers Association.
(10) The La. Department of Insurance. Requires the subcommitee to advocate in support of the Congressional bill, S. 3838 of the 118
th
Congress of 2024, also known as the Emergency Pine Beetle Response Act of 2024, and to request
the La. Congressional Delegation to support such Act as well as any other Congressional instrument
that address the issue of beetle infestation.
Requires the subcommittee to also focus its study on raising public awareness on beetle infestation,
the dangers of it, and making recommendations on prevention or a remediation plan.
Requires members of the subcommittee to serve without compensation, except per diem or expense
reimbursement to which they may be individually entitled to.
Requires the subcommittee to convene its first meeting no later than Aug. 1, 2024, at the call of the
chairman of the subcommittee, and the subcommittee to hold such meetings as may be necessary to
fulfill its duties. Requires the subcommittee to elect a vice chairman and other officers as it deems
appropriate at the first meeting.
Requires the House Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development to
provide staff assistance to the commission upon the request of the chairman of the subcommittee.
Requires the subcommittee to submit a report of its findings and recommendations of rules and
actions by Jan. 15, 2025, to the House Committee on Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural
Development, the commissioner of the La. Dept. of Agriculture and Forestry, and the David R.
Poynter Legislative Research Library.