GEORGIA STATUTES AND CODES
               		§ 2-7-130 - Enactment; text of compact
               		
               		
               	 	
               	 	               	 	
               	 	
               	 	
               	 		
O.C.G.A.    2-7-130   (2010)
   2-7-130.    Enactment; text of compact 
      The  Pest Control Compact is enacted into law and entered into with all  other jurisdictions legally joining therein. The compact is  substantially as follows:
  
PEST CONTROL COMPACT
  
  
Article I. Findings.
  
The party states find that:
(a)  In  the absence of the higher degree of cooperation among them possible  under this compact, the annual loss of approximately 25 billion dollars  from the depredations of pests is virtually certain to continue, if not  to increase.
(b)  Because of varying  climatic, geographic and economic factors, each state may be affected  differently by particular species of pests but all states share the  inability to protect themselves fully against those pests which present  serious dangers to them.
(c)  The migratory  character of pest infestations makes it necessary for states both  adjacent to and distant from one another, to complement each other's  activities when faced with conditions of infestation and reinfestation.
(d)  While  every state is seriously affected by a substantial number of pests, and  every state is susceptible of infestation by many species of pests not  now causing damage to its crop and plant life and products, the fact  that relatively few species of pests present equal danger to or are of  interest to all states makes the establishment and operation of an  Insurance Fund, from which individual states may obtain financial  support for pest control programs of benefit to them in other states and  to which they may contribute in accordance with their relative  interests, the most equitable means of financing cooperative pest  eradication and control programs.
  
Article II. Definitions.
  
As used in this compact, unless the context clearly requires a different construction:
(a)  "State"  means a state, territory or possession of the United States, the  District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
(b)  "Requesting  state" means a state which invokes the procedures of the compact to  secure the undertaking or intensification of measures to control or  eradicate one or more pests within one or more other states.
(c)  "Responding  state" means a state requested to undertake or intensify the measures  referred to in subdivision (b) of this Article.
(d)  "Pest"  means any invertebrate animal, pathogen, parasitic plant or similar or  allied organism which can cause disease or damage in any crops, trees,  shrubs, grasses or other plants of substantial value.
(e)  "Insurance Fund" means the Pest Control Insurance Fund established pursuant to this compact.
(f)  "Governing  Board" means the administrators of this compact representing all of the  party states when such administrators are acting as a body in pursuance  of authority vested in them by this compact.
(g)  "Executive Committee" means the committee established pursuant to Article V (e) of this compact.
  
Article III. The Insurance Fund.
  
There  is hereby established the Pest Control Insurance Fund for the purpose  of financing other than normal pest control operations which states may  be called upon to engage in pursuant to this compact. The Insurance Fund  shall contain monies appropriated to it by the party states and any  donations and grants accepted by it. All appropriations, except as  conditioned by the rights and obligations of party states expressly set  forth in this compact, shall be unconditional and may not be restricted  by the appropriating state to use in the control of any specified pest  or pests. Donations and grants may be conditional or unconditional,  provided that the Insurance Fund shall not accept any donation or grant  whose terms are inconsistent with any provision of this compact.
  
Article IV. The Insurance Fund, Internal Operations and Management.
  
(a)  The  Insurance Fund shall be administered by a Governing Board and Executive  Committee as hereinafter provided. The actions of the Governing Board  and Executive Committee pursuant to this compact shall be deemed the  actions of the Insurance Fund.
(b)  The  members of the Governing Board shall be entitled to one vote each on  such Board. No action of the Governing Board shall be binding unless  taken at a meeting at which a majority of the total number of votes on  the Governing Board are cast in favor thereof. Action of the Governing  Board shall be only at a meeting at which a majority of the members are  present.
(c)  The Insurance Fund shall have a  seal which may be employed as an official symbol and which may be  affixed to documents and otherwise used as the Governing Board may  provide.
(d)  The Governing Board shall  elect annually, from among its members, a chairman, a vice chairman, a  secretary and a treasurer. The chairman may not succeed himself. The  governing board may appoint an executive director and fix his duties and  his compensation, if any. Such executive director shall serve at the  pleasure of the Governing Board. The Governing Board shall make  provision for the bonding of such of the officers and employees of the  Insurance Fund as may be appropriate.
(e)  Irrespective  of the civil service, personnel or other merit system laws of any of  the party states, the executive director, or if there be no executive  director, the chairman, in accordance with such procedures as the bylaws  may provide, shall appoint, remove or discharge such personnel as may  be necessary for the performance of the functions of the Insurance Fund  and shall fix the duties and compensation of such personnel. The  Governing Board in its bylaws shall provide for the personnel policies  and programs of the Insurance Fund.
(f)  The  Insurance Fund may borrow, accept or contract for the services of  personnel from any state, the United States, or any other governmental  agency, or from any person, firm, association or corporation.
(g)  The  Insurance Fund may accept for any of its purposes and functions under  this compact any and all donations, and grants of money, equipment,  supplies, materials and services, conditional or otherwise, from any  state, the United States, or any other governmental agency, or from any  person, firm, association or corporation, and may receive, utilize and  dispose of the same. Any donation, gift or grant accepted by the  Governing Board pursuant to this paragraph or services borrowed pursuant  to paragraph (f) of this Article shall be reported in the annual report  of the Insurance Fund. Such report shall include the nature, amount and  conditions, if any, of the donation, gift, grant or services borrowed  and the identity of the donor or lender.
(h)  The  Governing Board shall adopt bylaws for the conduct of the business of  the Insurance Fund and shall have the power to amend and rescind these  bylaws. The Insurance Fund shall publish its bylaws in convenient form  and shall file a copy thereof and a copy of any amendment thereto with  the appropriate agency or officer in each of the party states.
(i)  The  Insurance Fund annually shall make to the Governor and legislature of  each party state a report covering its activities for the preceding  year. The Insurance Fund may make such additional reports as it may deem  desirable.
(j)  In addition to the powers  and duties specifically authorized and imposed, the Insurance Fund may  do such other things as are necessary and incidental to the conduct of  its affairs pursuant to this compact.
  
Article V. Compact and Insurance Fund Administration.
  
(a)  In  each party state there shall be a compact administrator, who shall be  selected and serve in such manner as the laws of his state may provide,  and who shall:
      1.  Assist in the coordination of activities pursuant to the compact in his state; and
      2.  Represent his state on the Governing Board of the Insurance Fund.
(b)  If  the laws of the United States specifically so provide, or if  administrative provision is made therefor within the federal government,  the United States may be represented on the Governing Board of the  Insurance Fund by not to exceed three representatives. Any such  representative or representatives of the United States shall be  appointed and serve in such manner as may be provided by or pursuant to  federal law, but no such representative shall have a vote on the  Governing Board or on the Executive Committee thereof.
(c)  The  Governing Board shall meet at least once each year for the purpose of  determining policies and procedures in the administration of the  Insurance Fund and, consistent with the provisions of the compact,  supervising and giving direction to the expenditure of monies from the  Insurance Fund. Additional meetings of the Governing Board shall be held  on call of the chairman, the Executive Committee, or a majority of the  membership of the Governing Board.
(d)  At  such times as it may be meeting, the Governing Board shall pass upon  applications for assistance from the Insurance Fund and authorize  disbursements therefrom. When the Governing Board is not in session, the  Executive Committee thereof shall act as agent of the Governing Board,  with full authority to act for it in passing upon such applications.
(e)  The  Executive Committee shall be composed of the chairman of the Governing  Board and four additional members of the Governing Board chosen by it so  that there shall be one member representing each of four geographic  groupings of party states. The Governing Board shall make such  geographic groupings. If there is representation of the United States on  the Governing Board, one such representative may meet with the  Executive Committee. The chairman of the Governing Board shall be  chairman of the Executive Committee. No action of the Executive  Committee shall be binding unless taken at a meeting at which at least  four members of such Committee are present and vote in favor thereof.  Necessary expenses of each of the five members of the Executive  Committee incurred in attending meetings of such Committee, when not  held at the same time and place as a meeting of the Governing Board,  shall be charges against the Insurance Fund.
  
Article VI. Assistance and Reimbursement.
  
(a)  Each  party state pledges to each other party state that it will employ its  best efforts to eradicate, or control within the strictest practicable  limits, any and all pests. It is recognized that performance of this  responsibility involves:
      1.  The  maintenance of pest control and eradication activities of interstate  significance by a party state at a level that would be reasonable for  its own protection in the absence of this compact.
      2.  The  meeting of emergency outbreaks or infestations of interstate  significance to no less an extent than would have been done in the  absence of this compact.
(b)  Whenever a  party state is threatened by a pest not present within its borders but  present within another party state, or whenever a party state is  undertaking or engaged in activities for the control or eradication of a  pest or pests, and finds that such activities are or would be  impracticable or substantially more difficult of success by reason of  failure of another party state to cope with infestation or threatened  infestation, that state may request the Governing Board to authorize  expenditures from the Insurance Fund for eradication or control measures  to be taken by one or more of such other party states at a level  sufficient to prevent, or to reduce to the greatest practicable extent,  infestation or reinfestation of the requesting state. Upon such  authorization the responding state or states shall take or increase such  eradication or control measures as may be warranted. A responding state  shall use monies made available from the Insurance Fund expeditiously  and efficiently to assist in affording the protection requested.
(c)  In order to apply for expenditures from the Insurance Fund, a requesting state shall submit the following in writing:
      1.  A detailed statement of the circumstances which occasion the request for the invoking of the compact.
      2.  Evidence  that the pest on account of whose eradication or control assistance is  requested constitutes a danger to an agricultural or forest crop,  product, tree, shrub, grass or other plant having a substantial value to  the requesting state.
      3.  A statement of  the extent of the present and projected program of the requesting state  and its subdivisions, including full information as to the legal  authority for the conduct of such program or programs and the  expenditures being made or budgeted therefor, in connection with the  eradication, control, or prevention of introduction of the pest  concerned.
      4.  Proof that the  expenditures being made or budgeted as detailed in item 3 do not  constitute a reduction of the effort for the control or eradication of  the pest concerned or, if there is a reduction, the reasons why the  level of program detailed in item 3 constitutes a normal level of pest  control activity.
      5.  A declaration as to  whether, to the best of its knowledge and belief, the conditions which  in its view occasion the invoking of the compact in the particular  instance can be abated by a program undertaken with the aid of monies  from the Insurance Fund in one year or less, or whether the request is  for an installment in a program which is likely to continue for a longer  period of time.
      6.  Such other information as the Governing Board may require consistent with the provisions of this compact.
(d)  The  Governing Board or Executive Committee shall give due notice of any  meeting at which an application for assistance from the Insurance Fund  is to be considered. Such notice shall be given to the compact  administrator of each party state and to such other officers and  agencies as may be designated by the laws of the party states. The  requesting state and any other party state shall be entitled to be  represented and present evidence and argument at such meeting.
(e)  Upon  the submission as required by paragraph (c) of this Article and such  other information as it may have or acquire, and upon determining that  an expenditure of funds is within the purposes of this compact and  justified thereby, the Governing Board or Executive Committee shall  authorize support of the program. The Governing Board or the Executive  Committee may meet at any time or place for the purpose of receiving and  considering an application. Any and all determinations of the Governing  Board or Executive Committee, with respect to an application, together  with the reasons therefor shall be recorded and subscribed in such  manner as to show and preserve the votes of the individual members  thereof.
(f)  A requesting state which is  dissatisfied with a determination of the Executive Committee shall upon  notice in writing given within 20 days of the determination with which  it is dissatisfied, be entitled to receive a review thereof at the next  meeting of the Governing Board. Determinations of the Executive  Committee shall be reviewable only by the Governing Board at one of its  regular meetings, or at a special meeting held in such manner as the  Governing Board may authorize.
(g)  Responding  states required to undertake or increase measures pursuant to this  compact may receive monies from the Insurance Fund, either at the time  or times when such state incurs expenditures on account of such  measures, or as reimbursement for expenses incurred and chargeable to  the Insurance Fund. The Governing Board shall adopt and, from time to  time, may amend or revise procedures for submission of claims upon it  and for payment thereof.
(h)  Before  authorizing the expenditure of monies from the Insurance Fund pursuant  to an application of a requesting state, the Insurance Fund shall  ascertain the extent and nature of any timely assistance or  participation which may be available from the federal government and  shall request the appropriate agency or agencies of the federal  government for such assistance and participation.
(i)  The  Insurance Fund may negotiate and execute a memorandum of understanding  or other appropriate instrument defining the extent and degree of  assistance or participation between and among the Insurance Fund,  cooperating federal agencies, states and any other entities concerned.
  
Article VII. Advisory and Technical Committees.
  
The  Governing Board may establish advisory and technical committees  composed of state, local, and federal officials, and private persons to  advise it with respect to any one or more of its functions. Any such  advisory or technical committee, or any member or members thereof may  meet with and participate in its deliberations. Upon request of the  Governing Board or Executive Committee an advisory or technical  committee may furnish information and recommendations with respect to  any application for assistance from the Insurance Fund being considered  by such Board or Committee and the Board or Committee may receive and  consider the same: provided that any participant in a meeting of the  Governing Board or Executive Committee held pursuant to Article VI (d)  of the compact shall be entitled to know the substance of any such  information and recommendations, at the time of the meeting if made  prior thereto or as a part thereof or, if made thereafter, no later than  the time at which the Governing Board or Executive Committee makes its  disposition of the application.
  
Article VIII. Relations with Nonparty Jurisdictions.
  
(a)  A  party state may make application for assistance from the Insurance Fund  in respect of a pest in a nonparty state. Such application shall be  considered and disposed of by the Governing Board or Executive Committee  in the same manner as an application with respect to a pest within a  party state, except as provided in this Article.
(b)  At  or in connection with any meeting of the Governing Board or Executive  Committee held pursuant to Article VI (d) of this compact a nonparty  state shall be entitled to appear, participate, and receive information  only to such extent as the Governing Board or Executive Committee may  provide. A nonparty state shall not be entitled to review of any  determination made by the Executive Committee.
(c)  The  Governing Board or Executive Committee shall authorize expenditures  from the Insurance Fund to be made in a nonparty state only after  determining that the conditions in such state and the value of such  expenditures to the party states as a whole justify them. The Governing  Board or Executive Committee may set any conditions which it deems  appropriate with respect to the expenditure of monies from the Insurance  Fund in a nonparty state and may enter into such agreement or  agreements with nonparty states and other jurisdictions or entities as  it may deem necessary or appropriate to protect the interests of the  Insurance Fund with respect to expenditures and activities outside of  party states.
  
Article IX. Finance.
  
(a)  The  Insurance Fund shall submit to the executive head or designated officer  or officers of each party state a budget for the Insurance Fund for  such period as may be required by the laws of that party state for  presentation to the legislature thereof.
(b)  Each  of the budgets shall contain specific recommendations of the amount or  amounts to be appropriated by each of the party states. The requests for  appropriations shall be apportioned among the party states as follows:  one-tenth of the total budget in equal shares and the remainder in  proportion to the value of agricultural and forest crops and products,  excluding animals and animal products, produced in each party state. In  determining the value of such crops and products the Insurance Fund may  employ such source or sources of information as in its judgment present  the most equitable and accurate comparisons among the party states. Each  of the budgets and requests for appropriations shall indicate the  source or sources used in obtaining information concerning value of  products.
(c)  The financial assets of the  Insurance Fund shall be maintained in two accounts to be designated  respectively as the "Operating Account" and the "Claims Account." The  Operating Account shall consist only of those assets necessary for the  administration of the Insurance Fund during the next ensuing two-year  period. The Claims Account shall contain all monies not included in the  Operating Account and shall not exceed the amount reasonably estimated  to be sufficient to pay all legitimate claims on the Insurance Fund for a  period of three years. At any time when the Claims Account has reached  its maximum limit or would reach its maximum limit by the addition of  monies requested for appropriation by the party states, the Governing  Board shall reduce its budget requests on a pro rata basis in such  manner as to keep the Claims Account within such maximum limit. Any  monies in the Claims Account by virtue of conditional donations, grants  or gifts shall be included in calculations made pursuant to this  paragraph only to the extent that such monies are available to meet  demands arising out of claims.
(d)  The  Insurance Fund shall not pledge the credit of any party state. The  Insurance Fund may meet any of its obligations in whole or in part with  monies available to it under Article IV (g) of this compact, provided  that the Governing Board takes specific action setting aside such monies  prior to incurring any obligation to be met in whole or in part in such  manner. Except where the Insurance Fund makes use of monies available  to it under Article IV (g) hereof, the Insurance Fund shall not incur  any obligation prior to the allotment of monies by the party states  adequate to meet the same.
(e)  The  Insurance Fund shall keep accurate accounts of all receipts and  disbursements. The receipts and disbursements of the Insurance Fund  shall be subject to the audit and accounting procedures established  under its bylaws. However, all receipts and disbursements of funds  handled by the Insurance Fund shall be audited yearly by a certified or  licensed public accountant and a report of the audit shall be included  in and become part of the annual report of the Insurance Fund.
(f)  The  accounts of the Insurance Fund shall be open at any reasonable time for  inspection by duly authorized officers of the party states and by any  persons authorized by the Insurance Fund.
  
Article X. Entry Into Force and Withdrawal.
  
(a)  This  compact shall enter into force when enacted into law by any five or  more states. Thereafter, this compact shall become effective as to any  other state upon its enactment thereof.
(b)  Any  party state may withdraw from this compact by enacting a statute  repealing the same, but no such withdrawal shall take effect until two  years after the executive head of the withdrawing state has given notice  in writing of the withdrawal to the executive heads of all other party  states. No withdrawal shall affect any liability already incurred by or  chargeable to a party state prior to the time of such withdrawal.
  
Article XI. Construction and Severability.
  
This  compact shall be liberally construed so as to effectuate the purposes  thereof. The provisions of this compact shall be severable and if any  phrase, clause, sentence or provision of this compact is declared to be  contrary to the constitution of any state or of the United States or the  applicability thereof to any government, agency, person or circumstance  is held invalid, the validity of the remainder of this compact and the  applicability thereof to any government, agency, person or circumstance  shall not be affected thereby. If this compact shall be held contrary to  the constitution of any state participating herein, the compact shall  remain in full force and effect as to the remaining party states and in  full force and effect as to the state affected as to all severable  matters.