For the purposes of this chapter “livestock” is defined as any camelid or hooved animal raised for domestic or commercial use. The Commissioner of Agriculture is authorized, subject to sections 4-168 to 4-174, inclusive, to make orders and regulations concerning the importation, transportation, trailing, riding, driving, exhibiting, examining, testing, identification, quarantining or disposing of livestock to prevent the spread of contagious and infectious diseases among livestock and to protect the public from such diseases as may be transmissible to human beings, either directly or through the products of such animals, and orders and regulations for the conservation of livestock the products from which are used for food or clothing. The commissioner shall give notice of any such order to any person named therein by leaving a copy of such order with, or at the last-known place of abode of, such person, if a resident of the state; if not a resident of the state, by leaving a copy with, or at the last-known place of abode of, an agent of such person, or the person having custody of the animals described in such order, if within the state, or by forwarding a copy of such order by registered or certified mail addressed to the last-known address of the person named therein. The commissioner, in case of emergency, may give notice of any regulation limiting or prohibiting the importation, transportation, trailing, riding, driving, exhibiting or disposing of livestock on any highway by publishing a copy of such regulation in a newspaper published or having a substantial circulation in the town in which the highway affected by such regulation may be located. The commissioner shall give notice of any such order or regulation to any common carrier named therein or affected thereby by leaving a copy of such order or regulation with the president, secretary or treasurer of the company acting as common carrier, or by leaving a copy with any person or firm acting as a common carrier, or at the last-known residence of any such person or a member of such firm in charge of any office of such carrier. The commissioner is authorized to employ assistants needed to enforce any such order or regulation. Any person or any officer or agent of any corporation who violates any provision of any such order or regulation, or who obstructs or attempts to obstruct the commissioner or any assistant engaged in the discharge of any duty hereunder, may be fined not more than one hundred dollars or may be assessed an administrative civil penalty in accordance with section 22-7.

(1949 Rev., S. 3318; 1959, P.A. 637, S. 2; 1961, P.A. 67; 1967, P.A. 136; 1971, P.A. 872, S. 446, 448; P.A. 88-317, S. 84, 107; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 146(e); P.A. 04-189, S. 1; P.A. 06-19, S. 9.)

History: 1959 act replaced commissioner of agriculture with commissioner of agriculture, conservation and natural resources; 1961 act replaced commissioner of agriculture, conservation and natural resources with commissioner of agriculture and natural resources; 1967 act added definition of “livestock”, rephrased provisions, switching verbs from passive to active voice, etc. and added reference to regulations re exhibiting livestock; 1971 act replaced commissioner of agriculture and natural resources with commissioner of agriculture; P.A. 88-317 amended reference to Sec. 4-168 to 4-174 to include new section added to Ch. 54, effective July 1, 1989, and applicable to all agency proceedings commencing on or after that date; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6 replaced Commissioner of Agriculture with Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective July 1, 2004; P.A. 04-189 repealed Sec. 146 of June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, thereby reversing the merger of the Departments of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective June 1, 2004; P.A. 06-19 redefined “livestock” to include camelids, made $100 fine discretionary and replaced 30-day imprisonment provision with administrative civil penalty provision, effective May 2, 2006.