RS 1 - Wildlife and Fisheries Commission established; membership; qualifications; definitions
A. To protect, conserve, and replenish the natural resources of the state, the wildlife of the state, including all aquatic life, is placed under the supervision and control of the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, which is hereby created and established in the executive branch of the state government.
B. The commission shall consist of seven members appointed by the governor, subject to confirmation by the Senate. Six of the members shall each serve for overlapping terms of six years, and one shall serve for a term concurrent with that of the governor.
C. Three members of the commission shall be electors of the coastal parishes and representatives of the commercial fishing and fur industries. The other four shall be electors from the state at large, other than representatives of the commercial fishing and fur industries.
D. The commissioners heretofore appointed under the provisions of Article VI, Section 1 of the Louisiana Constitution of 1921 and presently serving as commissioners, shall continue to serve for the terms for which appointed. Thereafter, any vacancy occurring in the commission by reason of the expiration of the term for which appointed or by reason of death, resignation or otherwise shall be filled by appointment by the governor; however, persons appointed to fill the vacancy created by a retiring or deceased commissioner shall be appointed for the unexpired term of such commissioner only.
E. No person who has served as commissioner for six years or more shall be eligible for reappointment.
F. No commissioner may be a member of the legislature or hold any salaried public office or employment for compensation, other than per diem, existing under or created by the laws of the United States, the state of Louisiana or by any subdivision thereof.
G. No compensation for his services shall be paid to any member of the commission, but each member shall be paid a per diem of twenty-five dollars for each day of meeting and actual expenses incurred in traveling to and from and attending meetings of the commission and in attending to his duties away from his domicile under assignment by the commission.
H. As used throughout this title, unless the context otherwise clearly indicates differently, "director" means the director of the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission and "commission" means the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission.
Amended by Acts 1974, No. 717, §1; Acts 1975, No. 81, §1; Acts 2013, No. 198, §2, eff. in Nov., 2014, if const. amend. is adopted in Nov., 2014.