State Senator Art Lentini was asked to bring up HB783 in the LA Senate for Representative Warren Triche. He declined to bring it up after discussions with The Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries and The Louisiana Gulf Coast Herpetological Society's Legislation Committee. The LDWF said that the bill wasn't needed and the Legislation Committee impressed that the bill could jeopordize the state's multi-million dollar reptile industry. The bill would have required the LDWF to regulate all non-indigenous constrictors. Current law requires the LDWF to regulate non indigenous constrictors over 12 feet. Thanks to Marshall Meyers of PIJAJ for getting involved, lobbyist Cindy Bishop of Checkmate Strategies, David Fluker of Fluker Farms, Matt Parsons of Noah's Ark, Sean Bradley of Exotics by Nature, Kevin & Nicole Elliser of K&N Reptiles, Louise Stevens of Bayou Reptiles, Mike Beebe of 50 Fathoms and all the rest of the LGCHS members (over 100) who called and wrote to their state Senators to get their attention to oppose the bill.
~Bill Watts~ Coordinator
LGCHS Legislative Committee
The Louisiana Gulf Coast Herpetological Society, Inc.