§494. Louisiana Shrimp Task Force

            A. There is hereby established the Louisiana Shrimp Task Force to study and monitor the shrimp industry and to make recommendations to the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission and the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and other state agencies for the maximization of benefit from that industry for the state of Louisiana and its citizens.

            B. The task force shall be composed as follows:

            (1) The governor or the governor's designee.

            (2) Three members appointed by the secretary of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries: one of whom shall be a marine biologist, one of whom shall be an enforcement agent, and one of whom shall be an economist.

            (3) The commissioner of agriculture and forestry or the commissioner's designee.

            (4) The secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health or the secretary's designee.

            (5) Three members and three alternate members appointed by the governor each of whom shall possess a commercial fisherman's license with a "certified" endorsement pursuant to R.S. 56:303(E), with four to be selected from a list of six nominees submitted by the Louisiana Shrimp Association and two to be selected from a list of six nominees submitted by the secretary of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

            (6) One member appointed by the governor who is an active Louisiana dock buyer of shrimp.

            (7) Three members and three alternate members appointed by the governor who are active Louisiana shrimp processors, at least one of whom is selected from a list of three nominees submitted by the American Shrimp Processors Association.

            C. The members appointed under the provisions of Paragraphs (B)(l) through (4) of this Section shall be nonvoting members. In addition, they shall not be considered members of the task force for determination of the number of members necessary for a quorum and for establishing the presence of a quorum.

            D. The task force shall adopt bylaws under which it shall operate, and four voting members of the task force shall constitute a quorum sufficient to conduct meetings and business of the task force. The governor shall appoint the chairman of the task force for a period of one year and thereafter, the task force shall elect a chairman from its membership and may seek and receive assistance from universities within the state in the development of methods to increase production and marketability of shrimp. The members of the task force shall serve without compensation; however, the task force may receive the same reimbursement of travel expenses for attending the meetings as is allowed for other state employees' travel.

            E. The task force is hereby charged with responsibility to do the following:

            (1) Coordinate efforts to increase shrimp production and marketability.

            (2) Provide for the study of the decline in shrimp marketability and market price, provide for the study of the impacts of imported shrimp on the domestic market, assist in the development of a state shrimp inspection program, assist in the development of a Louisiana shrimp certification and branding program, and make recommendations to the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission and the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, the Department of Energy and Natural Resources, the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, and the Louisiana Department of Health for implementation of policies to help enhance the domestic shrimp industry.

            (3) Make recommendations with respect to issues pertaining to the shrimp industry and shrimp production to the various state agencies charged with responsibility for differing elements of the shrimp industry in this state, including the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, the Department of Energy and Natural Resources, the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, the Louisiana Department of Health, the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, and the legislature.

            (4) Develop markets and marketing strategies for the development and expansion of markets for shrimp harvested from Louisiana waters.

            (5) Administer the funds in the Shrimp Marketing and Promotion Fund, which fund shall be used to create new markets for shrimp and promote the sale of shrimp harvested from Louisiana waters.

            (6) Represent the interests of the Louisiana shrimp industry before federal and state administrative and legislative bodies on issues of importance to the Louisiana shrimp industry.

            (7) Contract for legal services to represent the interests of the Louisiana shrimp industry in judicial, administrative, and legislative proceedings.

            (8) Perform any acts deemed necessary and proper to carry out its duties and responsibilities.

            F. The activities of the Shrimp Task Force shall be funded through the Shrimp Marketing and Promotion Fund (R.S. 56:10(B)(1)(b)(i)).

            Acts 2010, No. 606, §2; Acts 2013, No. 228, §2, eff. July 1, 2013; Acts 2016, No. 430, §7; Acts 2018, No. 612, §18, eff. July 1, 2020; Acts 2019, No. 404, §1, eff. July 1, 2020; Acts 2023, No. 150, §22, eff. Jan. 10, 2024.