House Bill No. by Representative Domangue aims to enhance the management of abandoned vessels in Louisiana waterways by establishing clear procedures for their removal and salvage. The bill amends R.S. 34:852.23 and enacts R.S. 34:845, which mandates the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to create rules for law enforcement to notify vessel owners of abandonment, allow third parties to recover tagged vessels, and provide information about the owners of abandoned vessels. Additionally, it outlines a process for obtaining salvage titles and selling recovered vessels, while also informing new registrants that they will be considered the owners and responsible for any abandoned vessels.

The bill also modifies existing law by changing the language regarding the Department's authority to adopt regulations for the registration and titling of abandoned and salvaged vessels. Specifically, it replaces "is authorized to" with "shall" in R.S. 34:852.23, emphasizing the Department's obligation to establish guidelines for these processes. Overall, the legislation seeks to streamline the handling of abandoned vessels, ensuring that there are clear responsibilities and procedures in place for both law enforcement and vessel owners.

Statutes affected:
HB301 Original: