County commissioners courts in affected counties must cooperate with the commission and provide treatment facilities and related upkeep for animals; they may also fund the work and use eminent domain for needed land or facilities.
Sec. 167.059. TREATMENT FACILITIES. (a) The commissioners court of each county, including a county in the free area, in all or part of which the commission conducts tick eradication shall cooperate with the commission and shall furnish facilities necessary to the treatment of animals in that county. The commissioners court shall furnish dipping vats, pens, chutes, and other necessary facilities in the number, at the locations, and of the type specified by the commission. In addition, the county, at its expense, shall maintain the facilities and repair or remodel them as necessary, shall provide the water for filling the vats, and shall clean and refill the vats as necessary. (b) For the purpose of constructing, purchasing, or leasing treatment facilities, and for the purpose of providing necessary land, labor, or materials, a commissioners court may appropriate money out of the general fund of the county or may incur indebtedness by the issuance of warrants. A warrant issued may not draw interest at a rate of more than six percent per year and may not have a term of more than 20 years. The commissioners court may levy taxes to pay interest on warrants and may establish a sinking fund for the payment of warrants. (c) For the purpose of acquiring necessary land for the construction or maintenance of treatment facilities, for the purpose of acquiring treatment facilities that have already been constructed, or for the purpose of acquiring land necessary for ingress and egress to and from those facilities, a commissioners court has the power of eminent domain. The commissioners court shall exercise the power of eminent domain in the manner provided by law for acquiring land for the building and maintenance of public buildings, except that the court shall institute and prosecute condemnation proceedings on written request from the presiding officer of the commission. The request from the commission shall designate: (1) the land to be condemned and its location; (2) the name of the owner of the land to be condemned; and (3) the easement to be acquired for ingress and egress. (d) In acquiring land or facilities by eminent domain, the commissioners court may retain the property for permanent use by making appropriate compensation or may acquire the property for temporary use by making proper compensation for the period of time determined necessary by the commissioners court. Acts 1981, 67th Leg., p. 1444, ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1981. Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 554, Sec. 33, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. Amended by: Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 324 (H.B. 1807), Sec. 19, eff. September 1, 2013. Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 324 (H.B. 1807), Sec. 20, eff. September 1, 2013. Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 773 (S.B. 1095), Sec. 19, eff. September 1, 2013. Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 773 (S.B. 1095), Sec. 20, eff. September 1, 2013.