§ 2-14-12 — Failure of Owner to Treat or Destroy Bees, Equipment, Etc., Upon Notification by Commissioner; Hearing for Review of Order of Commissioner to Treat or Destroy Diseased Bees, Etc.; Enforcement of Order

It shall be unlawful for any owner or keeper of bees who shall have been notified by the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries or his agents or employees that the State Apiarist has determined that the disease of Foulbrood or any other contagious or infectious disease of bees exists in the hives of his apiary to fail or refuse to destroy or treat such bees, their hives, equipment and appliances in the manner prescribed by the State Apiarist within a period of five days from date of receipt of such notification; provided, that any owner or keeper of bees notified to treat or destroy diseased bees shall have the right to have the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries review and reconsider such order at a formal hearing to be conducted for this purpose. At such hearing, the beekeeper may present any facts relevant to the condition of his apiary and request that the commissioner review and reconsider such order to treat and destroy. Any owner or keeper of bees desiring a hearing must file his request therefor with the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries not later than five days from the date of receipt of notice.
In addition to the penalties provided in this article for failure to treat or destroy diseased bees, their hives, equipment and appliances, the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries is hereby authorized, in the event any owner or keeper of bees fails and refuses to treat or destroy such bees, their hives and equipment, to enforce such order in a court of competent jurisdiction in the manner now provided by law for the abatement of public nuisances.

Legislative History

(Acts 1965, No. 794, p. 1488, §11.)