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 652 Engrossed 2025 Regular Session Kerner
Abstract: Transfers authority for imported seafood sampling, testing, and enforcement from the
Dept. of Culture, Recreation and Tourism to the Dept. of Agriculture and Forestry and
requires reporting and accounting by commercial seafood by processors and distributors and
by dealers.
Present law provides for the Seafood Safety Task Force to work in conjunction with the state health
officer, office of lt. governor, the La. Seafood Promotion and Marketing Bd., and the La. Restaurant
Assoc. to employ a marketing campaign for domestic seafood.
Proposed law replaces the Seafood Safety Task Force with the Dept. of Agriculture and Forestry.
Present law creates the Seafood Safety Task Force within the Dept. of Culture, Recreation and
Tourism.
Proposed law moves the Seafood Safety Task Force to the Dept. of Agriculture and Forestry.
Present law provides for the money for the Imported Seafood Safety Fund and the commercial
seafood permit fee to go to the Dept. of Culture, Recreation and Tourism.
Proposed law transfers the provisions of present law to the Dept. of Agriculture and Forestry.
Proposed law provides for seafood safety by creating regulations and testing requirements for
seafood processors and distributors with civil penalties for failure to report or for violating safety
provisions of proposed law and by creating reporting requirements for processors and distributors.
Proposed law provides definitions for "commingled", "department", "distributor", "domestic",
"processor", and "seafood".
Proposed law establishes powers of the commissioner of agriculture to oversee the testing and
reporting requirements for seafood safety established by proposed law.
Proposed law provides authority for the commissioner of agriculture and forestry to administer a
marketing program with the La. Seafood Promotion and Marketing Bd.
Proposed law provides for the Seafood Safety Task Force to be under the Dept. of Agriculture and
Forestry. Present law provides record requirements for commercial seafood submitted to the Dept. of Wildlife
and Fisheries.
Proposed law adds a record requirement for a detailed accounting of all imported seafood handled
the previous year to be submitted by dealers applying for an imported seafood license and for the
Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries to submit a copy to the Dept. of Agriculture and Forestry.
Present law provides for testing and regulation for imported seafood by the Dept. of Culture,
Recreation and Tourism.
Proposed law repeals present law.
Present law provides for the Dept. of Culture, Recreation and Tourism and the Dept. of Agriculture
and Forestry to promulgate emergency rules necessary to implement present law.
Proposed law repeals present law.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 40:5.5.2(B)(2), 5.5.3(A), (B)(intro. para.), and (H), 5.10.1(B), and 31.35(C); Adds
R.S. 3:4749 - 4749.3, R.S. 36:624(C) and 629(L)(5), and R.S. 56:306.5(B)(3); Repeals R.S.
36:204(A)(10) and 209(D)(4), R.S.40:31.35.1, and Section 2 of Act No. 667 of the 2024 R.S.)