2011 Louisiana Laws
Revised Statutes
TITLE 3 — Agriculture and forestry
RS 3:556.14 — Assessments on crawfish tails

§556.14. Assessments on crawfish tails

A. An assessment of one cent per pound is hereby levied on all crawfish tail meat sold in this state if the assessment is approved in a referendum vote by a majority of crawfish tail meat producers called by the board for that purpose.

B. An assessment approved in a referendum shall remain in effect unless a majority of crawfish tail meat producers vote to abolish the assessment in a referendum called for that purpose. A referendum to abolish the assessment shall be called by the board if one-third of the crawfish tail meat producers submit to the board a signed petition requesting such a referendum. No more than one such referendum shall be held annually.

C. If an assessment is approved or abolished in a referendum, the action shall become effective on the thirtieth day after the results are promulgated.

D. If the assessment is modified or eliminated for any reason, then all assessments approved, levied, or otherwise collectible under this Section on the last date prior to any such modification or elimination of assessments taking effect shall remain valid and collectible for such time as is necessary to pay the financial obligations incurred prior to the effective date of the modification or elimination of the assessment.

E. Only those persons who produce and package crawfish tail meat in Louisiana or those persons whose name, trade name, or label appears on packaged crawfish tail meat sold in Louisiana as the producer or distributor at the time the call for a referendum is issued shall have the right to vote in that referendum. Such persons are referred to as "crawfish tail meat producers" for purposes of this Section.

F. Referendums shall be conducted by the department under the direction of the board.

G. The board shall notify all known crawfish tail meat producers of the results of any referendum.

H. The assessment, if approved, shall be collected and paid at the first point of sale in Louisiana by the producer or distributor doing business in Louisiana and remitted to the department on or before the fifteenth day after the close of each quarter.

I. Each crawfish tail meat producer who produces crawfish tail meat from crawfish obtained from crawfish farmers and harvesters who have paid the assessment under R.S. 3:556.6 shall be exempt from the assessment imposed under this Section.

J. The board may impose a civil penalty for failure to collect and remit assessments in accordance with the provisions of this Section in the amount and in the manner provided for in R.S. 3:556.9(E).

K. The proceeds of the assessment shall be distributed and used in accordance with R.S. 3:556.12.

Acts 2006, No. 293, §1, eff. June 8, 2006.