§ 2-22-109 - Duties of persons engaged in beekeeping.
2-22-109. Duties of persons engaged in beekeeping.
(a) (1) It shall be the duty of all persons engaged in beekeeping to provide movable frames in all hives used by them to contain bees and to cause the bees in the hives to construct brood combs in the frames so that any of the frames may be removed from the hive without injuring other combs in the hive.
(2) Beekeepers shall change newly acquired bees from their natural habitat to hives as soon as possible, but in no case shall a period of more than twelve (12) months elapse between the date of acquiring new bees and transferring them to hives.
(b) Immediately upon detection of disease, anyone keeping bees shall treat and disinfect, or burn and bury in places where they shall remain undisturbed, combs and frames taken from diseased colonies, or, until salvaged, combs and frames shall be placed in tight receptacles so constructed that it shall be impossible for bees to gain access to combs or for honey or any other liquid to leak out where bees can gain access to it.
(c) Anyone exposing combs, honey, frames, empty hives, covers or bottom-boards, or tools, or other appliances contaminated by infected material from diseased colonies shall, upon conviction, be punished as provided in this chapter.