A. The State of Oklahoma is hereby declared brucellosis free. The State Board of Agriculture may reinstitute a program of brucellosis eradication based on the advice of the State Veterinarian and in consultation with the United States Department of Agriculture.

B. Each owner of livestock shall comply with the requirements of a brucellosis plan. A licensed, accredited veterinarian or authorized agent of the Board shall perform all tests on livestock for brucellosis. The owner or person in control of the livestock shall render assistance in restraining the animals as the State Veterinarian or a representative of the State Veterinarian deems necessary. Any owner or caretaker who neglects or refuses to present the livestock for testing or refuses or neglects to assist in restraining them, upon conviction thereof, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

C. The State Veterinarian or representative authorized to test the livestock may file a complaint with the district attorney who shall immediately notify the offending party either by certified mail, personal service, posting a notice on the premises, or publication that the person will have an additional ten (10) days to comply with the requirements. If the party fails to comply, the sheriff of the county shall gather the livestock for testing. The owner shall pay all fees and costs incurred in gathering the livestock into the county general fund, to be reappropriated to the county sheriff's office.

D. An indemnity payment in an amount approved by the United States Department of Agriculture and the Board shall be made on each reactor upon proof of slaughter. The Board shall pay any owner of cattle destroyed because of brucellosis an indemnity of not more than Fifty Dollars ($50.00) for each animal, provided the animal qualifies for an indemnity payment pursuant to official state or federal brucellosis regulations, and the state monies will be in addition to any indemnity payments by the United States Department of Agriculture. The indemnity payments shall be made from funds made available by the United States Department of Agriculture or the Board within the limits of availability. The state indemnity shall not be paid unless the owner of the cattle is in compliance with rules of the Board pertaining to an approved plan.

Added by Laws 1955, p. 48, art. 6(E), § 10, emerg. eff. June 3, 1955. Amended by Laws 1965, c. 470, § 2, emerg. eff. July 14, 1965; Laws 1967, c. 393, § 5, emerg. eff. May 23, 1967; Laws 1981, c. 13, § 1, eff. July 1, 1981; Laws 1983, c. 64, § 1, emerg. eff. April 29, 1983; Laws 1984, c. 19, § 1, emerg. eff. March 20, 1984; Laws 2000, c. 367, § 45, emerg. eff. June 6, 2000; Laws 2019, c. 71, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2019.