39-2812. PESTS — PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE — DISASTERS — EMERGENCIES — INTERIM ABATEMENT DISTRICTS. (1) To provide for the timely response to an elevated or anticipated pest population that may constitute a risk to public health and welfare, the board of county commissioners of each county of this state, in collaboration with duly recognized local and state officials, and after a public hearing is called for such purpose as a special meeting pursuant to the provisions of section 74-204(2), Idaho Code, is hereby granted full power and authority to declare such pests as public health and welfare pests, and to initiate activities to hinder in the potential spread of disease, or adverse economic impact, caused by these pests by taking appropriate steps to intervene in the natural biological cycle of the pests or disease.

(2) Boards of county commissioners are further authorized and empowered, in the event of a disaster or emergency declared by such boards, to make direct appropriations for the purpose of controlling public health and welfare pests as declared pursuant to this section. All moneys raised by direct appropriation shall be placed in a county public health and welfare pest fund, which shall be used exclusively for the control of pests of public health and welfare significance and for payment of all necessary expenses incurred in such control program. In addition, the county may impose an annual property tax assessment pursuant to section 39-2805, Idaho Code, and in accordance with the provisions of sections 63-802 and 63-803, Idaho Code, for the term of the disaster or emergency or until all expenses incurred during the disaster or emergency have been recovered. Such fund shall be a revolving fund and all moneys returned to the fund under any of the provisions of this chapter shall continue to be available for the operation of the control program.

(3) The disaster or emergency declaration of a pest of public health and welfare significance within a county and subsequent pest management activity shall, except as provided herein, place the whole county into an interim abatement district for administrative purposes for no more than two (2) years. The transition of an interim abatement district into a formally defined abatement district, shall be brought to a vote of the electorate within twenty-four (24) months of the declaration, subject to the notification and establishment requirements provided in this chapter and conducted during a general election held on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November of even numbered years, and if passed, the district shall be recognized and the provisions of this chapter shall be implemented. If the measure fails, the balance of revolving fund moneys shall be distributed as required by state law. In the event the disaster or emergency exceeds the county’s capacity or resources, provisions should be made to request state or federal disaster or emergency funds to address the evolving situation. If the interim abatement district provides the same service as an existing abatement district, the interim abatement district shall exclude any area within an existing abatement district.

History:

[39-2812, added 2007, ch. 188, sec. 10, p. 552; am. 2015, ch. 141, sec. 89, p. 444.]