Sec. 131.021. POWERS AND DUTIES OF CHIEF APIARY INSPECTOR. (a) For the purpose of enforcing this chapter, the chief apiary inspector may:

(1) adopt rules and act as necessary to control, eradicate, or prevent the introduction, spread, or dissemination of contagious or infectious diseases of bees;

(2) prohibit the shipment or entry into this state of bees, honey, combs, pollen, or other items capable of transmitting diseases of bees from another state, territory, or foreign country except in accordance with rules adopted by the inspector; and

(3) seize and order the destruction, treatment, or sale of a colony of bees, equipment, pollen, or honey that is determined to be diseased, infectious, abandoned, or in violation of this chapter or a rule or quarantine adopted under this chapter.

(b) For purposes of this section, apiaries, equipment, or bees are considered infectious if:

(1) the bees are not hived with movable frames or stored so as to prevent the possible spread of disease; or

(2) the bees, equipment, or apiary generally comprise a hazard or threat to disease control in the beekeeping industry.

Amended by Acts 1983, 68th Leg., p. 1884, ch. 350, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1983; Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 418, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1985.