§10. Annual report to governor; estimate of proposed expenditures; particular funds; limitations on purposes for use of monies in particular funds and accounts; warrants; vouchers; surplus funds

            A. On or before the first Monday in April of each year the commission shall prepare and present to the governor a printed annual report showing the operations of the commission since the date of its last annual report, showing the amount of money received by it and from what sources, and showing the amount of money expended by it and for what purposes. In each annual report immediately preceding the regular session of the legislature the commission shall include an estimate of proposed expenditures and the expenses for the ensuing year, its prospective revenues and any recommendations for legislative action. The governor shall lay copies of the report before the succeeding legislature. At each regular session the legislature shall appropriate such funds as it deems wise for the continuation of the work of the commission.

            B.(1) Subject to the exception contained in Article VII, Section 9(A) of the Constitution of Louisiana, all funds collected by the commission from every source shall be paid into the state treasury and shall be credited to the Bond Security and Redemption Fund. Out of the funds remaining in the Bond Security and Redemption Fund after a sufficient amount is allocated from that fund to pay all obligations secured by the full faith and credit of the state which become due and payable within any fiscal year, the treasurer shall, prior to placing such remaining funds in the state general fund, conform to the following:

            (a)(i) Pay annually into a special fund created in the state treasury and designated as the Seafood Promotion and Marketing Fund an amount equal to the total of thirty dollars per resident commercial fisherman's license fee.

            (ii) Pay annually into a special fund created in the state treasury and designated as the "Oyster Development Fund" the additional fee of five cents for each oyster tag sold pursuant to R.S. 56:449 and paid into the treasury by the commission. All expenditures and allocation of monies from this fund shall be administered by the Louisiana Oyster Task Force. The task force may contract with the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board to promote the Louisiana oyster industry.

            (b)(i) Pay annually into a special fund created in the state treasury and designated as the "Shrimp Marketing and Promotion Fund" an amount equal to the fees collected pursuant to R.S. 56:305(G) and paid into the treasury by the commission. All expenditures and allocation of monies from this fund shall be administered by the Louisiana Shrimp Task Force to be used for the development of markets for shrimp and creation of marketing strategies for the development and market expansion for shrimp harvested from Louisiana waters. The task force may contract with the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board to promote the Louisiana shrimp industry.

            (ii) Pay annually into a special account created in the Conservation Fund and designated as the "Shrimp Development and Management Account" an amount equal to the fees collected pursuant to R.S. 56:305(B)(1) and (C)(1) and paid into the treasury by the commission. All expenditures and allocation of monies from this fund shall be administered by the department. The Shrimp Development and Management Account is intended to defray the cost of the shrimp program within the department and support the functions of the Shrimp Task Force, specifically to assist in funding salaries and financial support including associated indirect costs for employees in the shrimp program, the management of the shrimp population, law enforcement activities associated with shrimp industry, research on all aspects involved with the shrimp resource and industry, and authorized activities of the Shrimp Task Force.

            (c) Pay into a special fund created in the state treasury and designated as the Conservation Fund an amount equal to the total amount of funds paid into the treasury by the commission except those funds for which provision is made in Subparagraphs (a), (b), and (d) of this Paragraph.

(d) Repealed by Acts 2021, No. 356, §6, eff. June 1, 2022.

            (e) Pay annually into a special fund created in the state treasury and designated as the "Crab Development, Management, and Derelict Crab Trap Removal Account" an amount equal to the fees specified for deposit in R.S. 56:305(B)(2) and (C)(1), 306(B)(6), and 306.1(B)(7). All expenditures and allocations of monies from this account shall be administered by the department in consultation with the Crab Task Force. The Crab Development, Management, and Derelict Crab Trap Removal Account is intended to defray the cost of the crab program within the department and support the functions of the Crab Task Force, specifically to assist in funding salaries and financial support including associated indirect costs for employees in the crab program, the management of the crab population, law enforcement activities associated with crab industry, research on all aspects involved with the crab resource and industry, administration and implementation of the Derelict Crab Trap Removal Program, marketing programs recommended by the Crab Task Force, and authorized activities of the Crab Task Force. The task force may contract with the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board to promote the Louisiana crab industry.

            (f) There is hereby created in the Conservation Fund, the Charter Boat Fishing Fund. Monies deposited into the fund shall be used by the department for the promotion of the charter boat industry, protection of the fishery, and to provide for administrative costs of the fund. Such funds are to be expended for such purposes through the Louisiana Charter Boat Association.

            (g) There is hereby created in the Conservation Fund a special account designated as the "Saltwater Fish Research and Conservation Fund".

            (2) The monies in the Conservation Fund shall be used solely for the programs and purposes and in the amounts appropriated each year to the commission by the legislature.

            (3) The monies in the Seafood Promotion and Marketing Fund shall be used by the Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board to implement the duties and functions of that board relating to the promotion and marketing of seafood as provided in R.S. 56:578.3 in the amounts appropriated each year to the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism by the legislature for the use by the board.

            (4)(a) There is hereby created within the Conservation Fund a special account designated as the "Oyster Resource Management Account" which shall consist of those revenues collected from the sale of commercial oyster gear licenses pursuant to R.S. 56:305(B)(3) and (C)(1), the sale of oyster cargo vessel permits pursuant to R.S. 56:422, all revenues received from the payment of lease rentals pursuant to R.S. 56:428, and the fees collected from the sale of public oyster seed ground vessel permits and associated gear fees pursuant to R.S. 56:433.1.

            (b) The secretary is authorized to assess, invoice, demand, accept, and receive funds or materials as compensation for damages or impacts associated with activities occurring on or over the public oyster seed grounds, seed reservations, and tonging areas.

            (c) The revenues shall be subject to the same requirements as provided for other revenues placed in the Conservation Fund in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection.

            (d) All expenditures and allocation of monies from this fund shall be administered by the department. The Oyster Resource Management Account is intended to defray the cost of the oyster program within the department, specifically to assist in funding salaries and financial support including associated indirect costs for employees in the oyster program, the management of the oyster population, law enforcement activities associated with oyster industry, research on all aspects involved with the oyster resource and industry, enhancement of the state's public oyster seed grounds, research into propagation and habitat, oyster hatchery operations, and the administrative functions of the oyster lease and survey section of the department.

            (5)(a) There is hereby created in the Conservation Fund a special account known as the Louisiana Duck License, Stamp, and Print Fund. The treasurer shall pay annually into the Louisiana Duck License, Stamp, and Print Fund all amounts received pursuant to the Louisiana Duck License, Stamp, and Print Program provided for in R.S. 56:151 et seq. and such other funds as are specifically appropriated by the legislature.

            (b) Half of the monies deposited in the Louisiana Duck License, Stamp, and Print Fund shall be used solely for the following in-state waterfowl management programs and purposes:

            (i) To acquire lands in Louisiana which have the primary and direct purpose of conserving, restoring, and enhancing migratory waterfowl habitat.

            (ii) To carry out migratory waterfowl habitat restoration and enhancement projects on lands under the jurisdiction of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

            (iii) To fulfill the purposes of Items (i) and (ii) of this Subparagraph, when feasible and when in coastal areas, in a manner which will contribute to the protection of the coastal areas of the state from deterioration and which will enhance the productivity of the coastal marshes.

(iv) To acquire lands for wildlife and game management.

            (v) To make grants, not to exceed ten percent of the program revenues, to the North American Waterfowl Habitat Conservation Plan for the purpose of acquiring, developing, or maintaining migratory waterfowl areas within Louisiana.

            (vi) To cover the administrative costs associated with the implementation of the Louisiana Duck License, Stamp, and Print Program, not to exceed five percent of the program revenues.

            (c) Half of the monies deposited in the Louisiana Duck License, Stamp, and Print Fund may be dedicated by the commission to the development and preservation of breeding grounds for migratory waterfowl, the funds to be expended for such purposes through Ducks Unlimited, Inc. or under the direction of the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission at its discretion.

            (6) Repealed by Acts 2021, No. 356, §6, eff. June 1, 2022.

            (7)(a) There is hereby created in the Conservation Fund a special fund called the Louisiana Wild Turkey Fund. The monies in the Louisiana Wild Turkey Fund shall be used solely for the programs and purposes associated with the Louisiana Wild Turkey Program in the amounts appropriated each year to the department by the legislature.

            (b) The revenues collected from the sale of the Louisiana Wild Turkey Federation license plate provided for in R.S. 47:463.54 shall be used solely for turkey restocking and research purposes in the amounts appropriated each year to the commission by the legislature, with the exception of five dollars per plate sold to be used for the purpose of advertising the license plates.

            (c) Subject to appropriation, the monies in the Louisiana Wild Turkey Fund shall be used:

            (i) To acquire lands in Louisiana which have the primary and direct purpose of conserving, restoring, and enhancing wild turkey habitat.

            (ii) To carry out wild turkey habitat restoration and enhancement projects on lands under the jurisdiction of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

            (iii) To acquire lands that are suitable for wild turkeys and wild turkey management.

            (8) There is hereby created within the Conservation Fund a special account known as the "waterfowl account" which shall consist of those revenues collected from the sale of the Ducks Unlimited license plates provided for in R.S. 47:463.53. The revenues shall be subject to the same requirements as provided for other revenues placed in the Conservation Fund in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection. The funds in this account shall be used solely for the purpose of conserving, restoring, and enhancing migratory waterfowl habitat in Louisiana. Specific expenditures of the proceeds shall be made in consultation with Louisiana Ducks Unlimited, provided that Louisiana Ducks Unlimited contributes an amount each fiscal year equal to the amount of funds collected from the sale of the license plates placed into the "waterfowl account".

            (9) There is hereby created within the Conservation Fund a special account known as the "black bear account". The revenues shall be subject to the same requirements as provided for other revenues placed in the Conservation Fund in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection. The funds in this account shall be used solely for the purpose of conserving, restoring, and enhancing black bear habitat in Louisiana.

            (10) There is hereby created within the Conservation Fund a special account known as the "quail account". The revenues shall be subject to the same requirements as provided for other revenues placed in the Conservation Fund in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection. The funds in this account shall be used solely for the purpose of conserving, restoring, and enhancing quail habitat in Louisiana.

            (11) There is hereby created within the Conservation Fund a special account known as the "white tail deer account" which shall consist of those revenues collected from the sale of the white tail deer license plates provided for in R.S. 47:463.86. The revenues shall be subject to the same requirements as provided for other revenues placed in the Conservation Fund in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection. The funds in this account shall be used solely for programs pertaining to the white tail deer in Louisiana.

            (12) There is hereby created within the Conservation Fund a special account known as the "enforcement emergency situation response account", which shall consist of funds received from federal grant reimbursements, contracts or cooperative agreements, interagency transfers, other grants or other resources to recoup monies for services which are designated for deposit into this account, and those revenues as provided in R.S. 56:40.9(A). All revenues to this account shall be subject to the same requirements as provided for other revenues placed in the Conservation Fund pursuant to Paragraph (1) of this Subsection. The funds in this account shall be used solely by the enforcement division of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries for emergency situation preparedness, operations in emergency situations, responses to emergency situations, and emergency search and rescue operations, as appropriated annually by the legislature.

            (13) Repealed by Acts 2021, No. 356, §5, eff. Nov. 15, 2021.

            (14) There is hereby created within the Conservation Fund a special account known as the "Rare and Endangered Species Account", which shall consist of revenues collected from the sale of the "Rare and Endangered Species" special prestige license plate provided for in R.S. 47:463.150, donations, and any other source which may specify deposit to this account. The revenues in the account shall be subject to the same requirements as other revenues in the Conservation Fund. All expenditures and allocations of funds from this account shall be used solely for purposes of conserving, restoring, and enhancing rare and endangered species habitats in Louisiana.

            (15)(a) There is hereby created within the Conservation Fund a special account known as the "litter abatement account" which shall consist of revenue received by the Conservation Fund from the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, office of motor vehicles as provided in R.S. 32:412; revenue received by the Conservation Fund from fines for violations of the provisions of Part I of Chapter 21 of Subtitle II of Title 30 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950 as provided in R.S. 30:2531 and 2532; funds from public or private donations and any other source which may specify deposit to this account; and any remaining balance in the litter abatement and education account as of August 1, 2022. The revenues shall be subject to the same requirements as provided for other revenues placed in the Conservation Fund in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection.

            (b) The funds in this account shall be used solely for the following:

            (i) To provide for litter abatement grant programs in the state.

            (ii) To provide for litter abatement and enforcement.

            (iii) To support community-based litter abatement programs.

            (16)(a) The monies in the Saltwater Fish Research and Conservation Fund shall be used solely for the administration and conducting of the Louisiana Recreational Creel Survey (LACREEL), the Recreational Offshore Landing Permit program (ROLP), and the saltwater fish stock estimate.

            (b) The monies allocated to the programs described in Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph shall not be used on or for any of the following purposes:

            (i) To create any exempted fishing permit program or pilot program as recognized and granted by the United States Department of Commerce through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - National Marine Fisheries Service, that establishes a limited access or entry program for licensed fishermen, either voluntarily or required, fishing in territorial waters, including the boundary from the shoreline to a distance nine miles into the Gulf of Mexico, as established by federal law.

            (ii) To create limited entry programs, including but not limited to lotteries, established for any of the following:

            (aa) The issuance of fish harvest tags.

            (bb) The issuance of fish harvest tags on a "first-come, first-served basis" for more than eighty percent of the total allowable catch of an individual species of fish.

            (cc) The limitation of the days at sea that further restrict access to a number of days that differs from seasons established for all licensed fishermen by the department or the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council.

            (dd) The creation of fisheries unit efforts or effort units or any other program that limits access for licensed fishermen to fish other than the beginning and end dates of established seasons as determined by the secretary in consultation with the commission or seasons set by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council.

            (ee) The creation or enforcement of any individual fishing quota or individual transferrable quota systems for licensed fishermen, licensed charter boat fishing guides, and federally permitted licensed charter boat operations in which vessels used in that operation are registered in the state.

            (ff) The establishment of any mandatory reporting programs by licensed fishermen, including required advanced notification of any department personnel prior to commencement of a fishing trip by licensed fishermen.

            (gg) The creation of any mandatory reporting program in which licensed fishermen are required to report their catch immediately upon returning to port after fishing unless during a dockside intercept conducted by department personnel conducting dockside intercept surveys on behalf of LACREEL or ROLP.

            (c) If the department violates Subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph, the treasurer shall not release any more monies credited to the Saltwater Fish Research and Conservation Fund to the department, until such time as the department ceases its violation.

            (d) The department shall make an annual report to the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and the House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment on the progress and effectiveness of LACREEL and the saltwater fish stock estimate.

            (17) There is hereby created within the Conservation Fund a special account known as the "Louisiana Outdoors Forever Fund". The funds in this account shall be used solely for and in accordance with the Louisiana Outdoors Forever Program, provided for in R.S. 56:1931 et seq. Any appropriations, public or private grants, gifts, or donations received by the state or the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries for the purposes of this program shall be credited to the fund. The monies in the fund shall be subject to the same requirements as provided for in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection. The monies in the fund shall be invested by the treasurer in the same manner as the monies in the state general fund and all interest earned shall be deposited and credited to the fund after compliance with the requirements of Article VII, Section 9(B) of the Constitution of Louisiana. All unexpended or unencumbered monies remaining in the fund at the end of the fiscal year shall remain to the credit of the fund.

            (18)(a) There is hereby created within the Conservation Fund a special account known as the "environmental education account" which shall consist of donations collected from the sale of the environmental education license plate provided for in R.S. 47:463.43 and funds from public or private donations and any other source which may specify deposit to this account. The revenues shall be subject to the same requirements as provided for other revenues placed in the Conservation Fund in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection.

            (b) The funds in this account shall be used solely for the following:

            (i) To develop, review, approve, and implement a plan for statewide environmental education.

            (ii) To provide for environmental education grant programs in the state.

            (iii) To develop an environmental education curriculum framework.

            (iv) To develop guidelines for incorporating environmental education into teacher education requirements.

            (v) To develop environmental education teacher professional development.

            (vi) To provide for formal environmental education.

            (vii) To develop, disseminate, and assess litter education and awareness programs and materials.

            C. The commission shall keep a set of books showing from whom every dollar is received and for what purpose and to whom every dollar is paid and for what purpose. It also shall keep in its file vouchers or receipts for all moneys paid out.

            D. All unexpended and unencumbered monies in the funds or accounts established in this Section at the end of the fiscal year shall remain in the respective funds. The monies in these funds and accounts shall be invested by the treasurer in the same manner as monies in the state general fund. All interest earned on monies invested by the treasurer shall be deposited in the respective funds or accounts. 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 funds and accounts from all sources.

            Amended by Acts 1972, No. 494, §1; Acts 1974, No. 717, §1; Acts 1975, No. 343, §1; Acts 1983, No. 602, §1; Acts 1984, No. 230, §1, eff. June 29, 1984; Acts 1984, No. 883, §1, eff. Aug. 1, 1985; Acts 1986, No. 904, §§3, 4; Acts 1988, No. 632, §§1, 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1989; Acts 1992, No. 193, §1; Acts 1992, No. 984, §§17, 18; Acts 1995, No. 225, §1; Acts 1995, No. 448, §1; Acts 1995, No. 535, §2; Acts 1997, No. 70, §2; Acts 1997, No. 660, §2; Acts 1997, No. 962, §2; Acts 1997, No. 1158, §2; Acts 1999, No. 735, §2; Acts 1999, No. 772, §1; Acts 2001, No. 270, §1; Acts 2001, No. 663, §1; Acts 2003, No. 357, §1; Acts 2003, No. 784, §1; Acts 2004, No. 904, §1, eff. July 12, 2004; Acts 2005, No. 172, §1; Acts 2008, No. 722, §1, eff. Nov. 15, 2008; Acts 2010, No. 100, §1; Acts 2010, No. 606, §2; Acts 2010, No. 991, §2; Acts 2011, No. 265, §5, eff. July 1, 2011; Acts 2011, No. 375, §1, eff. July 1, 2011; Acts 2013, No. 40, §1; Acts 2013, No. 228, §2, eff. July 1, 2013; Acts 2014, No. 804, §1, eff. June 1, 2014; Acts 2017, No. 81, §2; Acts 2017, No. 404, §1; Acts 2018, No. 41, §1, eff. May 10, 2018; Acts 2018, No. 509, §3; Acts 2018, No. 612, §18, eff. July 1, 2020; Acts 2019, No. 87, §1, eff. June 3, 2019; Acts 2019, No. 404, §1, eff. July 1, 2020; Acts 2021, No. 114, §16, eff. July 1, 2022; Acts 2021, No. 356, §§2, 5, eff. Nov. 15, 2021; Acts 2021, No. 356, §§3, 6, eff. June 1, 2022; Acts 2022, No. 15, §4; Acts 2022, No. 714, §2, eff. June 18, 2022.

NOTE: See Acts 2019, No. 87, directing the state treasurer to transfer monies remaining in the Shrimp Trade Petition Account to the Shrimp Marketing and Promotion Fund.