2014 Louisiana Laws
Revised Statutes
TITLE 56 - Wildlife and Fisheries
RS 56:14 - Saltwater Fishery Enforcement Account; creation; use of monies in the account

§14. Saltwater Fishery Enforcement Account; creation; use of monies in the account

A. The "Saltwater Fishery Enforcement Account" is hereby created as a special account in the Conservation Fund. The monies in this account shall be used solely as provided in Subsection D of this Section and only in the amounts appropriated by the legislature. The monies in this account shall be invested by the state treasurer in the same manner as monies in the state general fund. Monies deposited into the account and interest earned on the investment of monies in the account shall be credited to the account, following compliance with the requirement of Article VII, Section 9(B) of the Constitution of Louisiana relative to the Bond Security and Redemption Fund.

B. The monies in the "Saltwater Fishery Enforcement Account" shall be obtained and allocated pursuant to Subsection C of this Section. Monies deposited into the account, and the revenues derived from investment of monies in the account, shall be used to supplement enforcement efforts related to saltwater fishery and fishery related laws, rules, and regulations in the coastal parishes of the state.

C. Funds received by the department from contributions or donations and court awards made specifically to the Saltwater Fishery Enforcement Account shall be deposited to the account. The monies in the Saltwater Fishery Enforcement Account shall be used solely as provided for in this Section. The state treasurer shall prepare and submit to the department, on a quarterly basis, a printed report showing the amount of money contained in the fund from all sources.

D. It is the purpose of this Section to provide financial assistance in any manner to the enforcement division of the department for the purpose of enforcing regulations governing, protecting, managing, and conserving saltwater fishery species and providing public safety while in the performance of those duties. It is specifically provided herein that any violation of gear limits or gear regulations in conjunction with shoreline trawling shall be strictly enforced.

E. It is specifically provided that the intent of the legislature in the enactment of the Louisiana Marine Resources Conservation Act of 1995 (Act No. 1316 of the 1995 Regular Session) is to promote the enhancement of Louisiana's marine resources by the removal of indiscriminate entanglement nets from coastal waters.

Acts 1999, No. 804, §1, eff. July 2, 1999; Acts 2004, No. 835, §1, eff. July 12, 2004.