Section 2-17A-3 Contracts for Inspection Services by Department of Agriculture and Industries; Fees for Inspection Services.

The Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries, with approval of the State Board of Agriculture and Industries, is authorized and empowered to enter into agreements of contract with any person, firm, corporation or association on terms mutually agreeable with the parties thereto whereby the Department of Agriculture and Industries shall provide qualified personnel to perform rabbit meat and rabbit meat food products inspection in accordance with such rules and regulations as may be adopted under authority of this chapter. The Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries, under authority of contracts for inspection work as authorized in this section, is empowered to charge and collect fees for inspection services to be performed, which fees shall be in the nature of a contribution to defray the cost of such services. All amounts collected as inspection fees shall be deposited into the State Treasury to the credit of the Agricultural Fund and be specifically designated or earmarked therein for expenditure by the Department of Agriculture and Industries to defray cost and expenses necessary to furnish such inspection services. The amount of fees or compensation to be paid to the Department of Agriculture and Industries under the provisions of any contract authorized hereunder shall be fixed and approved by the State Board of Agriculture and Industries at an amount whereby no cost or additional expenses will be borne by said department in rendering the inspection services to be performed, except as hereinafter provided. The amount of inspection fees or compensation shall not be fixed at a sum which will produce any profit or additional revenue to the Department of Agriculture and Industries over and above the actual cost necessary to furnish such inspection service. In the event the Legislature appropriates funds to defray the cost and expenses of providing inspection services as authorized under this chapter, then any contract as authorized hereunder with respect to the payment of inspection fees shall not be necessary; provided, that if any such amount as may be appropriated shall be insufficient to furnish the required inspection services such contracts may then provide that the difference or an additional amount as may be necessary to perform the required inspection services shall be paid by the slaughtering and processing establishment receiving the inspection services.