Livestock Crimestoppers Program

A. The Livestock Crimestoppers Program is hereby created within the Department of Agriculture to be administered by the Livestock Brand Commission. B. The commission shall do the following: (1) Create, maintain, and promote a statewide livestock crimestoppers program in order to assist law enforcement agencies in detecting and combatting livestock-related crimes. (2) Determine which individuals shall be rewarded for providing information used in detecting and combatting livestock-related crimes. (3) Determine the amount of any reward to be paid. C. The commission may do the following: (1) Assist and advise in the creation and maintenance of local livestock crimestoppers programs. (2) Encourage the channeling of information from the programs to law enforcement agencies. (3) Foster the detection of livestock-related crimes by the public. (4) Promote the state and local programs through the media. (5) Accept gifts, grants, and donations for the furtherance of the program and spend these in compliance with the conditions of the gifts, grants, or donations. (6) Adopt such rules and regulations as are necessary to administer the program. All rules and regulations shall be adopted in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act. D. Initial funding for the livestock crimestoppers program shall be provided by a donation from the Louisiana Cattlemen's Association. E. All donations and other funds made available to the program shall be kept in an interest-bearing account. F. The identity of each person who submits information under any state or local livestock crimestoppers program and any information which may lead to the disclosure of that person's identity shall be kept confidential.