47-435. Same; petition; resolution of county commissioners; basic brand inspection area designated; termination as area, procedure. (a) Whenever a petition is submitted to the board of county commissioners, signed by not less than 51% of the resident owners of cattle, as determined by an enumeration taken and verified for this purpose by a qualified elector of the county, requesting that the county be designated a brand inspection area, it shall be the duty of the board of county commissioners, within 10 days after receipt of such petition, to make a determination as to the sufficiency of the qualifications and numbers of signers. If such petition is found sufficient the board shall adopt a resolution declaring the county a brand inspection area, and shall immediately file a certified copy of such resolution with the animal health commissioner. In every case, the date of filing of the certified copy of the resolution of the board of county commissioners declaring the county a brand inspection area with the commissioner shall be the date the county shall qualify as a brand inspection area.

(b) Any and all counties which have been designated as a brand inspection area and which are adjacent to and contiguous with other counties so designated, shall constitute a part of a basic brand inspection area. From and after the effective date of this act, the counties of Hamilton, Kearny and Wichita shall be and are hereby designated and declared to be a part of a basic brand inspection area. Such basic brand inspection area shall be subject to enlargement by the addition of other contiguous counties.

(c) Whenever a petition is submitted to the board of county commissioners, signed by not less than 51% of the resident owners of cattle, as determined by an enumeration taken and verified for this purpose by a qualified elector of the county, requesting that the county no longer be designated a brand inspection area and that its status as a brand inspection area be terminated, it shall be the duty of the board of county commissioners, within 10 days after receipt of such petition, to make a determination as to the sufficiency of the qualifications and numbers of signers. If such petition is found sufficient the board shall adopt a resolution declaring that the county is no longer a brand inspection area and shall immediately file a certified copy of such resolution with the animal health commissioner. Thereupon the county shall be terminated as a brand inspection area, but the termination as a brand inspection area by a county within a basic brand inspection area shall not affect the existence of such basic brand inspection area as to the remaining counties therein.

History: L. 1959, ch. 228, § 2; L. 1963, ch. 285, § 1; L. 1969, ch. 258, § 9; L. 1996, ch. 90, § 6; L. 2012, ch. 140, § 25; July 1.