The department must destroy or treat certain cotton in eradication zones, adopt rules for cotton control by January 1, 2010, and may charge a volunteer cotton fee if growers or landowners do not destroy the cotton after notice.
Sec. 74.119. AUTHORITY FOR DESTRUCTION OR TREATMENT OF COTTON IN ERADICATION ZONES; COMPENSATION PAYABLE. (a) The department shall destroy or treat hostable volunteer or other hostable noncommercial cotton and establish procedures for the purchase and destruction of commercial cotton in eradication zones if the department determines the action is necessary to carry out the purposes of this subchapter. The department is not liable to the owner or lessee for the destruction of or injury to any cotton that was planted in an eradication zone after publication of notice as provided by this subchapter. The foundation is liable for the destruction of cotton if the cotton was planted in an eradication zone before publication of the notice. (b) Not later than January 1, 2010, the department shall adopt rules providing for the regulation and control of volunteer and other noncommercial cotton in pest management zones. At a minimum, the rules must: (1) provide a grower or landowner with a period of time in which the grower or owner is required to destroy hostable volunteer or other hostable noncommercial cotton on receipt of a notice from the department; and (2) allow the department or a person designated by the department: (A) to monitor and treat hostable volunteer or other hostable noncommercial cotton that is located in a crop field for boll weevil infestation if the grower or landowner does not destroy the cotton in compliance with the notice from the department; and (B) to destroy hostable volunteer or other hostable noncommercial cotton that is not in a crop field, as provided by Section 74.004. (c) If a grower or landowner does not destroy hostable volunteer or other hostable noncommercial cotton as required by Subsection (b)(1), the grower or owner shall pay to the department a volunteer cotton fee in an amount determined by the department. A fee under this subsection: (1) may be assessed only on acreage where hostable volunteer or other hostable noncommercial cotton is located; (2) may not be less than one-half the amount the grower or owner would owe if the entire acreage were planted with cotton; and (3) shall be deposited to the credit of the hostable cotton fee account established by Section 74.0032. Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 8, Sec. 1, eff. June 1, 1993. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 463, Sec. 2.08, eff. May 30, 1997. Amended by: Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 178 (H.B. 1580), Sec. 7, eff. May 27, 2009.