HB 1258 — WILDLIFE & FISHERIES: Provides with respect to seizure of sick, injured, or orphaned wildlife

HLSENROLLED 26RS-5040 ENGROSSED Regular Session HOUSEBILLNO.1258 (SubstituteforHouseBillNo.662byRepresentativeGeymann) BY REPRESENTATIVES GEYMANN AND VENTRELLA WILDLIFEAN &ACT FISHERIES:To enact R.S.

Provides with respect to seizure of sick, injured, or orphaned wildlife AN ACT To enact R.S.

(1) If the contraband wildlife is clinically healthy, past the age of independence, and release of the species into the wild is not prohibited by law or regulation, the department shall release the wildlife into a suitable habitat.

HLS 26RS-5040 ENGROSSED HB NO.

1258 (1)ENROLLED (2) If the contraband wildlife is clinicallysick, healthy,injured, pastor theotherwise agenot ofimmediately independence,releasable, andbut releaseis capable of thebeing speciesrehabilitated, into the wilddepartment isshall notplace prohibitedthe bywildlife lawwith ora regulation,wildlife therehabilitator departmentpermitted shallby release the wildlifedepartment intowho ais suitableauthorized habitat.topossessthespeciesandwhoiswillingtoacceptthewildlife.

(2)Wildlifeplacedwith Ifa therehabilitator contrabandshall wildliferemain isin sick,the injured,rehabilitator's orpossession otherwiseuntil notit immediatelycan releasable,be butreleased isto capablethewild oforuntil beingtherehabilitator,in rehabilitated,consultation the department shall place the wildlife with athedepartment, wildlifedetermines rehabilitatorthat permittedfurther bytherehabilitation department who is authorizednot topossessthespeciesandwhoiswillingtoacceptthewildlife.feasible.

Wildlifeplacedwith a rehabilitator shall remain in the rehabilitator's possession until it can be released to thewild oruntil therehabilitator, in consultation with thedepartment,determines that further rehabilitation is not feasible.

(3) If the contraband wildlife is medicallynonreleasablemedicallynonreleasableor or is determined to be nonreleasable due to habituation to life in captivity or rehabilitation would pose a risk to public health or be deemed inappropriate due to an animal's temperament and risk of injury to the animal or humans, the department shall make every reasonable effort to place the wildlife with a zoo, aquarium, sanctuary, educational institution as appropriate,or otherotherfacilitythatis facilitythatlicensedor is licensed or otherwise authorizedtoauthorized to possess the species under state or federal law.

(e) The state wildlife veterinarian, or Department of Wildlife and Fisheries departmentalveterinarianhasdeterminedthateuthanasiaisinthebestinterestofthe animal.

HLS 26RS-5040 ENGROSSED HB NO.

1258 (e)ENROLLED TheD. state wildlife veterinarian, or Department of Wildlife and Fisheries departmentalveterinarianhasdeterminedthateuthanasiaisinthebestinterestofthe animal.

D.Anyeuthanasiaperformedpursuant to this Section shall be conducted in accordance with the most current edition of the American Veterinary Medical Association:

Anyeuthanasia performed pursuant to this Section shall be conducted in accordance with the most current edition of the American Veterinary Medical Association:

DIGESTSPEAKER ThedigestprintedbelowwaspreparedbyHouseLegislativeOF Services.THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA APPROVED:

ItPage constitutes3 nopart of the3 legislativeCODING: instrument.

The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent.

[R.S.

1:13(B) and 24:177(E)] HB 1258 Engrossed 2026 Regular Session Geymann Abstract:

Provides for the disposition of sick, injured or orphaned wildlife species seized asaresultofunlawfulpossession,establishesapreferenceforrelease,rehabilitation, and placement with a wildlife rehabilitator or licensed facility, and provides for euthanasia only when no feasible alternatives exist.

Proposedlawprovidesforwildlifeheldinviolationofpresentlawthatisseizedbythedept.

and specifies that such wildlife will be referred to as "contraband wildlife".

Proposed law provides for contraband wildlife to be evaluated by dept.

field staff or by a veterinarian to determine its disposition.

Proposed law provides for the disposition order of preference to include release when possible, rehabilitation when possible with a permitted rehabilitator, placement at an appropriate facility when possible, and euthanasia when no other possibilities exist.

Proposed law provides for the enumerated conditions which must be met for euthanasia.

Proposed law requires that euthanasia be performed in accordance with the most current accepted guidelines by the American VeterinaryMedical Association.

(Adds R.S.

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