(1) Subject to section 13 of article XII of the state constitution, the commissioner is authorized to employ a licensed doctor of veterinary medicine as state veterinarian, who will be an authorized representative of the department.
The commissioner may employ, as assistants and authorized representatives, accredited veterinarians who are licensed to practice in Colorado as may be necessary to assist the state veterinarian in carrying out the duties and functions set forth in this article.
The commissioner may commission graduate veterinarians located in various portions of the state, to be known as commissioned state veterinarians. Such commissioned state veterinarians may be called upon by the state veterinarian to perform such special duties in all hazards arising from any livestock emergencies as may be assigned to them, and they shall report to the state veterinarian. Commissioned state veterinarians shall perform only such special duties as may be assigned to them. Such commissioned state veterinarians shall hold their commissions at the pleasure of the commissioner and may be removed at any time.
The commissioner may appoint or employ competent persons to perform duties asassigned by the state veterinarian for disease control or livestock emergencies.
The department shall administer an infectious or contagious disease surveillance,control, and eradication program and shall supervise or be responsible for the supervision of all personnel engaged in any county or area infectious or contagious disease control program. The service of personnel commissioned or appointed pursuant to subsections (3) and (4) of this section shall be paid for by the livestock owner unless specifically provided for by local, state, or federal funding.
All persons utilized by the commissioner, the department, and the state veterinarianpursuant to this section, whether employed or volunteer, shall be deemed employees of the department for purposes of article 10 of title 24, C.R.S.
Source: L. 2005: Entire article R&RE, p. 448, § 1, effective December 1.
Editor's note: This section is similar to former §§ 35-50-101, 35-50-117, and 35-50-150, as they existed prior to 2005.
Cross references: For the division of animal industry in the department of agriculture, see article 1 of this title and § 24-1-123.