The Commissioner of Agriculture shall have authority to cooperate with the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services, of the United States Department of Agriculture in any national plan adopted by said department or service for the control and eradication of livestock and avian contagious or infectious diseases. Said commissioner may accept from the United States such assistance, financial or otherwise, for the condemnation of diseased animals, for remunerating the owners thereof and for carrying out the provisions of this chapter as may be available from time to time. Upon the acceptance of said national plan by the Governor, after consultation with the commissioner, the officials of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services, of the United States Department of Agriculture, at the request of the commissioner, shall have the right to inspect, quarantine and condemn animals affected with any contagious, infectious or communicable disease or suspected to be affected with, or that have been exposed to, any such disease, and may enter any grounds or premises for these purposes. The commissioner may call upon law enforcement officials including, but not limited to, state police and municipal police officials to assist them in the discharge of their duties in carrying out the provisions of such national plan and of this section, and law enforcement officials shall render such assistance when so called upon.

(1949 Rev., S. 3347; 1959, P.A. 637, S. 2; 1961, P.A. 67; 1971, P.A. 872, S. 446, 448; P.A. 85-51, S. 1; P.A. 00-99, S. 61, 154; P.A. 02-35, S. 1; P.A. 03-123, S. 1; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 146(e); P.A. 04-189, S. 1.)

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; 1971 act replaced commissioner of agriculture and natural resources with commissioner of agriculture; P.A. 85-51 substituted “Animal And Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services”, for “Bureau of Animal Industry”; P.A. 00-99 deleted references to sheriffs, effective December 1, 2000; P.A. 02-35 changed “national system” to “national plan”, “bovine tuberculosis or any contagious or infectious disease of any bovine animal” to “livestock and avian contagious or infectious diseases”, added provision re control of such diseases, deleted reference to chapter 432, changed “inspectors” to “officials”, provided that such officials act “at the request of the commissioner”, required the Governor to consult with the commissioner and enabled the commissioner to call upon law enforcement officials, including state police and municipal officials, rather than “constables”, effective July 1, 2002; P.A. 03-123 made technical changes, effective June 26, 2003; 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.