(1) Whenever the state veterinarian reports to the commission that there exists an outbreak of contagious or infectious disease among livestock of this state of such a character as to endanger and imperil the livestock of the state, the commission, upon approval of the governor, may issue an order of condemnation to condemn and destroy any livestock so infected or any livestock that has been exposed to or is deemed by the commission capable of communicating such contagious or infectious disease to other livestock and to condemn and destroy any barns, sheds, corrals, pens, or other property that the commission may determine is necessary to be destroyed in order to prevent the spread of such contagion or infection. Such condemnation and destruction shall take place only when in the opinion of the commission and the governor an emergency exists and such action is justified and necessary for the safety and protection of the livestock of this state.
Whenever the state agricultural commission finds it necessary to condemn and destroy any animals or property within this state because of any contagious or infectious disease, such animals or property shall not be destroyed until after a fair appraisal has been made of the value of such animals or property by three appraisers, one to be appointed by the state agricultural commission, one by the owner of the property to be destroyed, and the third to be selected by these two. Such appraisers shall make a report to the commission under oath as to their appraisal and the commission shall forward such appraisal to the governor with such recommendation as to the proportion of such appraisement to be considered a just bill against the state of Colorado as the commission may think right.
Any dispute or protest regarding the appraisal shall not delay destruction of the animals or property.
Source: L. 2005: Entire article R&RE, p. 455, § 1, effective December 1.
Editor's note: This section is similar to former §§ 35-50-111 and 35-50-113 as they existed prior to 2005.