Senate Bill No. 45 was introduced in the 2003 Regular Legislative Session by Senator Joe McPherson and was sponsored by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. The bill passed the Senate 35-0 and the House 102-3, and the Governor signed the bill (Act 48). The bill is contained in R.S. 56:332(E, G, and M).

The bill gave the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission (LWFC) the authority to establish a program for the removal of derelict crab traps, and specified that the LWFC designate the following:

• the beginning and ending dates of the trap closure,
• the geographical area of the trap closure,
• whom may remove the abandoned traps,
• the locations where the removed abandoned traps are to be placed for disposal.

Two time windows were provided for the closures:

• up to a 16 consecutive day period between February 1 and March 31,
• up to a 14 consecutive day period which includes the opening of the spring inshore shrimp season.

The LWFC must approve the derelict crab trap removal program each year, usually at their August or September meeting. A Notice of Intent (NOI) and Resolution will be provided. The general public may comment on the proposed program at the LWFC meeting or in writing to the Department. The NOI will be promulgated through the Administrative Procedure Act and ratified by the Joint Natural Resources Committee of the Louisiana Legislature at the beginning of the following year, and published in the Louisiana Register.