The representatives of the United States department of agriculture animal and plant health inspection service under the specific authorization of the board may inspect, quarantine and condemn livestock affected with a disease or suspected of being affected with a disease or that have been exposed to a disease and for these purposes may enter any grounds or premises in the state. The representatives may call upon peace officers to assist them in the discharge of their duties as specified by the board in carrying out federal laws and regulations as provided in Section 77-3-9 NMSA 1978. The peace officers shall assist the representatives when so requested and authorized by the board.

History: Laws 1909, ch. 9, § 5; Code 1915, § 110; C.S. 1929, § 4-1013; 1941 Comp., § 49-310; 1953 Comp., § 47-3-10; Laws 1993, ch. 248, § 23; 1999, ch. 282, § 25.

The 1999 amendment, effective July 1, 1999, inserted "as specified by the board" following "discharge of their duties" and substituted "federal laws and regulations" for "the provisions of the act of congress" in the second sentence; substituted the last sentence for "and it is the duty of the officers to assist them when so requested. The inspectors of the board shall have the same powers and protection as peace officers while engaged in the discharge of their duties", and made stylistic changes throughout the section.

The 1993 amendment, effective June 18, 1993, substituted "The representatives of the United States department of agriculture animal and plant health inspection service under the specific authorization of the board" for "The inspector of the bureau of animal industry of the United States or duly authorized qualified veterinarian of the cattle sanitary board" at the beginning of the first sentence; deleted "constables and" preceding "peace officers" and inserted "as provided in Section 77-3-9 NMSA 1978" in the second sentence; deleted "cattle sanitary" preceding "board" in the third sentence; and made minor stylistic changes.