2014 Oklahoma Statutes
Title 2. Agriculture
§2-6-405. Suppression and eradication of disease – Actions permitted – Cooperation with federal agencies in enforcement of regulations – Compensation – Appraisal – Proceedings barred pending compensation – Injunction.

A. When it is determined by the State Board of Agriculture that it is necessary to eradicate any dangerous, infectious or communicable disease among domestic animals in the state, the presence of which constitutes an emergency declared pursuant to the Animal Disease Outbreak Temporary Emergency Act or declared by the United States Department of Agriculture, the Board may take reasonable and necessary steps to suppress and eradicate the disease. The Board may cooperate with the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the United States Department of Agriculture, federally recognized Indian tribes, state or local government agencies, or any other private or public entity in the suppression and eradication of the disease.

B. When an emergency has been declared, the Board or the State Veterinarian may order:

1. Animals destroyed which are infected with the disease, exposed to the disease, or are highly susceptible to exposure to the disease because of proximity to diseased animals affected by the disease;

2. Personal property to be destroyed in order to remove the infection;

3. The cleaning and disinfection of any premises, exposed to the disease, or are highly susceptible to exposure to the disease because of proximity to diseased animals affected by the disease; and

4. Any act and incur any other expense reasonably necessary to destroy or suppress the disease.

C. The Governor, at the request of the Board, may take any other emergency action necessary to ensure the health of the public and the state livestock industry.

D. 1. The Board may:

a.accept on behalf of the state, the regulations adopted by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the United States Department of Agriculture pertaining to the disease authorized under an act of Congress, or the portion of the regulations deemed necessary, suitable, or applicable, and

b.cooperate with the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the United States Department of Agriculture, in the enforcement of such regulations.

2. Alternatively, the Board may follow the procedure only as to quarantine, inspection, condemnation, appraisal, compensation, destruction, burial of animals, disinfection, or other acts the Board considers reasonably necessary for the destruction or suppression of the disease as adopted by the Board.

E. 1. For the purpose of determining compensation as provided by subsection F of this section, appraisals of animals or personal property destroyed pursuant to the Animal Disease Outbreak Temporary Emergency Act must be made by a Board-approved appraiser or by an appraisal committee consisting of an appraiser representing the Board, an appraiser representing the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the United States Department of Agriculture, and an appraiser representing the owner. When, in the judgment of the Board or the State Veterinarian, the animals to be killed or personal property to be destroyed poses a disease threat, appraisals may be conducted after the animals are killed based on documents, testimony, or other relevant evidence.

2. Appraisals must be:

a.in writing and signed by the appraisers or appraisal committee, and

b.made at the fair market value of all animals and personal property appraised, unless otherwise provided by applicable federal law or regulation when compensation is paid by federal funds.

F. Upon destruction of animals or personal property, burial or other disposition of the carcasses of the animals, and the completion of the cleaning and disinfection of the premises in accordance with the provisions of the Animal Disease Outbreak Temporary Emergency Act, the Board or its authorized agent shall certify the appraisal to the Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services. If funds are available for this purpose, the Director shall then file a claim with the State Treasurer for a warrant in the amount payable to the owner, excluding any compensation received by the owner from other sources.

G. A person who believes that the Board's certified appraisal is not sufficient may apply for a temporary restraining order or injunctive relief from the appropriate district court.

H. 1. No person or other legal entity may initiate any proceeding to collect a debt from the owner relating to animals or personal property destroyed pursuant to this section, until the owner has received compensation under paragraph F of this section.

2. If a person or other legal entity refuses to comply with this subsection after being informed that the owner qualifies for relief pursuant to the Animal Disease Outbreak Temporary Emergency Act, the owner may apply to the district court in the county in which the owner resides for a court order directing the person or other legal entity to comply with this subsection and to reimburse the owner for reasonable attorney fees incurred in obtaining the court order.

3. The provisions of this subsection shall not affect the validity of a mortgage foreclosure, contract for deed cancellation or other proceeding involving the title to real property, unless the owner records in the office of the county clerk where the real property is located, prior to completion of the proceeding to collect the debt, a certified copy of the court order determining that the owner qualifies for relief pursuant to the Animal Disease Outbreak Temporary Emergency Act, and the legal description of the real property.

4. a.For purposes of proceedings involving title to real property pursuant to paragraph 3 of this subsection, the court order must provide that the order expires ninety (90) days after the date of application for the court order, unless the court extends the court order prior to that date for good cause shown.

b.A certified copy of any extension of the court order must be filed in the office of the county clerk in order to affect the validity of a proceeding affecting the title to real property.

5. For purposes of this subsection:

a."completion of a proceeding to collect a debt" means, in the case of a mortgage foreclosure or of a foreclosure of any other lien on real property, the filing or recording of the sheriff's certificate of sale, and, in the case of a contract for deed cancellation, the end of the cancellation period provided in that law, and

b."proceeding to collect a debt" includes foreclosure, repossession, garnishment, levy, contract for deed cancellation, an action to obtain a court judgment, a proceeding to collect real estate taxes or special assessments, eviction, and any other in-court and out-of-court proceedings to collect a debt. The term shall not include sending bills or other routine communications to the owner.

Added by Laws 2002, c. 173, § 19, emerg. eff. May 6, 2002. Amended by Laws 2012, c. 304, § 6.