Panel urges formal 24-hour reporting, clearer interagency communication and adaptive containment steps for CWD

Members of a legislative task force reviewing chronic wasting disease (CWD) management recommended formalizing communications between agencies and exploring a 24-hour reporting requirement for confirmed positive cases as part of a broader package of containment and notification proposals.

The nut of the discussion: Several contributors said current notification between state agencies and federal veterinary services often happens informally and sometimes after outside observers post mapping data. A public commenter and former senator said that gap undermined public trust and recommended stronger, consistent rules for bilateral notification.

What was proposed and why it matters: The Wildlife Federation and other stakeholders urged mandatory enrollment in USDA herd-certification for captive herds and mandatory rapid reporting of positives to LDWF and USDA APHIS so state and federal partners and affected producers are notified promptly. Members noted the practical tension: quick public controls can harm local businesses and hunters' willingness to test, so some recommended adaptive windows that prioritize intensive sampling first and narrow control zones if negative sampling rates justify it.

On containment policy, members debated whether to mirror Arkansas' county-tier model or retain parish-level controls tailored by distance and habitat. An LDWF staffer said Arkansas allows baiting during the deer season statewide and uses county-level tiering, but the committee noted Louisiana's parish shapes and variable habitat complicate a county-style transplant.

Public comment emphasized enforcement and traceability: former state senator Joe McPherson and others urged clearer tracking and regulation of captive facilities, stronger enforcement resources, and better carcass-movement rules to prevent cross-region spread. McPherson also stressed that incentives to increase sampling must be paired with protections so landowners and hunters do not avoid testing for fear of immediate penalties.

Next procedural steps: The chair directed staff to compile stakeholder input and staff proposals into an HCR 75 draft for the April meeting, including options for mandated reporting, environmental/soil testing capacity (LSU or other labs) and quarantine/containment criteria. No formal rules were adopted at this meeting.

Ending: The task force adjourned after instructing staff to circulate draft recommendations prior to the April session so members can vote or amend proposals at the next meeting.