(A) Any person involved in any activity in connection with exhibiting livestock at an exhibition or with raising livestock with the apparent intent that the livestock eventually is to be entered in an exhibition is subject to disciplinary action by the department of agriculture for any of the following reasons:

(1) The person has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of section 901.76 or 2925.09 of the Revised Code, or has been found by the director of agriculture to have tampered with or sabotaged livestock;

(2) The director reasonably suspects that the person's conduct in regard to raising or exhibiting the livestock threatens, endangers, or adversely affects food safety or the health, safety, or welfare of livestock;

(3) The person has refused to cooperate with the director or the director's designee in the inspection, sampling, and testing of livestock under section 901.73 of the Revised Code, unless the person withheld consent to the inspection, sampling, and testing and no search warrant was issued;

(4) The person has violated a rule adopted by the director under section 901.72 of the Revised Code from which the sponsor of the exhibition at which the violation occurred could have exempted itself under that section, but chose not to.

(B) If one or more of the grounds for disciplinary action listed in division (A)(1), (2), or (3) of this section exist, the director, upon the director's own initiative, may conduct an adjudication in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code and may take any disciplinary action established by the director by rules adopted in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code. If one or more of the grounds for disciplinary action listed in division (A) of this section exist, the director, upon the request of a sponsor, may conduct an adjudication in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code and may take any disciplinary action established by the director by rules adopted in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code. Disciplinary action imposed under this section by the director may include disqualifying the person, the person's family, members of the person's household, or any other person associated with the activity resulting in the disciplinary action from participating in any class or with any species of livestock in any current or future exhibition.

(C) The director, in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, may adopt rules establishing the criteria and procedures for the reinstatement of any person disqualified from participation in an exhibition as a result of disciplinary action taken by the director under this section. Any person disqualified by disciplinary action of the director may file a written request with the director to seek reinstatement after the period of disqualification ends or at any other time established by rule. Upon the written request of the person seeking the reinstatement, the director shall conduct an adjudication in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

Effective Date: 07-01-1996