The bill, introduced by Representative Ventrella, enacts R.S. 56:129 to allow wildlife rehabilitators to possess white-tailed deer under specific conditions. It prohibits the rehabilitation of white-tailed deer that originate from outside Louisiana and allows for the rehabilitation of injured or orphaned deer from within a Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Management Zone, provided they are released only within the same zone. The bill mandates that rehabilitators monitor the health of these deer for any neurological symptoms associated with CWD, with violations potentially leading to penalties and revocation of rehabilitation permits.

Additionally, the bill outlines strict requirements for the care and rehabilitation of white-tailed deer, including euthanization of any deer displaying CWD symptoms and quarantine protocols for all deer in the facility. It specifies that deer with open fractures, neurological symptoms, or signs of habituation to humans are ineligible for rehabilitation. The bill also sets forth guidelines for enclosure sizes and construction materials, mandates that fawns be fed from a hanging rack once accustomed to bottle feeding, and requires prior notification to the department before releasing rehabilitated deer, which must occur at predetermined locations without any visual markings.