GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

1989 SESSION

 

 

CHAPTER 544

HOUSE BILL 1112

 

AN ACT TO MAKE MISCELLANEOUS CHANGES IN AGRICULTURE FEE STATUTES, TO IMPLEMENT BASE BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS.

 

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

 

Section 1.  G.S. 106-604 reads as rewritten:

"§ 106-604.  License fee; bond required; exemption.

All applications shall be accompanied by an initial or renewal license fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) plus twenty dollars ($20.00) fifty dollars ($50.00) plus thirty dollars ($30.00) per certificate or decal for each separate buying station or truck and a good and sufficient bond in the amount of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) to satisfy the initial license application. A fee of one dollar ($1.00) five dollars ($5.00) shall be charged for each duplicate license, certificate or decal. 'Cash buyers' upon written request to the Commissioner showing proof satisfactory to the Commissioner that the person is a 'cash buyer' under this Article shall be exempted from bonding requirements hereunder. The exemption shall be granted within 20 days of the receipt of the exemption request or unless the Commissioner requests the dealer to provide additional necessary information or unless the request is denied."

Sec. 2.  G.S. 106-624 reads as rewritten:

"§ 106-624.  Sign furnished by Commissioner.

It shall be the duty of the Commissioner to cause to be prepared and furnished for a fee of five dollars ($5.00) ten dollars ($10.00) each to all grain dealers, as defined in this Article, in the State a sign not less than 11 x 15 inches, which shall contain information that it is a violation of law for any person to sell, offer for sale or deliver adulterated grain. Said sign shall also set out the penalties for violation of this Article. Duplicate signs, and replacement for signs lost, stolen, worn or otherwise unusable, shall be purchased from the Department of Agriculture for a fee of five dollars ($5.00) per sign."

Sec. 3.  G.S. 106-607 reads as rewritten:

"§ 106-607.  Renewal of license.

Licenses shall be renewed upon application and payment of renewal fees on or before the fifteenth day of June following the date of expiration of any license hereunder issued. Applications received after June 15 of any year shall be subject to a late filing fee of ten dollars ($10.00) twenty dollars ($20.00) in addition to other applicable fees."

Sec. 4.  G.S. 106-22 reads as rewritten:

"§ 106-22.  Joint duties of Commissioner and Board.

The Commissioner of Agriculture, by and with the consent and advice of the Board of Agriculture shall:

(1)       General. - Investigate and promote such subjects relating to the improvement of agriculture, the beneficial use of commercial fertilizers and composts, and for the inducement of immigration and capital as he may think proper; but he is especially charged:

(2)       Commercial Fertilizers. - With such supervision of the trade in commercial fertilizers as will best protect the interests of the farmers, and shall report to district attorneys and to the General Assembly information as to the existence or formation of trusts or combinations in fertilizers or fertilizing materials which are or may be offered for sale in this State, whereby the interests of the farmers may be injuriously affected, and shall publish such information in the Bulletin of the Department;

(3)       Cattle and Cattle Diseases. - With investigations adapted to promote the improvement of milk and beef cattle, and especially investigations relating to the diseases of cattle and other domestic animals, and shall publish and distribute from time to time information relative to any contagious diseases of stock, and suggest remedies therefor, and shall have power in such cases to quarantine the infected animals and to regulate the transportation of stock in this State, or from one section of it to another, and may cooperate with the United States Department of Agriculture in establishing and maintaining cattle districts or quarantine lines, to prevent the infection of cattle from splenic or Spanish fever. Any person willfully violating such regulations shall be liable in a civil action to any person injured, and for any and all damages resulting from such conduct, and shall also be guilty of a misdemeanor;

(4)       Honey and Bee Industry. - With investigations adapted to promote the improvement of the honey and bee industry in this State, and especially investigations relating to the diseases of bees, and shall publish and distribute from time to time information relative to such diseases, and such remedies therefor, and shall have power in such cases to quarantine the infected bees and to control or eradicate such infections and to regulate the transportation or importation into North Carolina from any other state or country of bees, honey, hives, or any apiary equipment, or from one section of the State to another, and may cooperate with the United States Department of Agriculture in establishing and maintaining quarantine lines or districts. The Commissioner of Agriculture, by and with the consent and advice of the Board of Agriculture, shall have power to make rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this section; and in event of failure to comply with any such rules and regulations, the Commissioner of Agriculture or his duly authorized agent is authorized to confiscate and destroy any infected bees and equipment and any bees and/or used apiary equipment moved in violation of these regulations;

(5)       Insect Pests. - With investigations relative to the ravages  of insects and with the dissemination of such information as may be deemed essential for their abatement, and making regulations for destruction of such insects. The willful violation of any of such regulations by any person shall be a misdemeanor;

(6)       New Agricultural Industries. - With investigations and experiments directed to the introduction and fostering of new agricultural industries, adapted to the various climates and soils of the State, especially the culture of truck and market gardens, the grape and other fruits;

(7)       Drainage and Irrigation; Fertilizer Sources. - With the investigations of the subject of drainage and irrigation and publication of information as to the best methods of both, and what surfaces, soils, and locations may be most benefited by such improvements; also with the collection and publication of information in regard to localities, character, accessibility, cost, and modes of utilization of native mineral and domestic sources of fertilizers, including formulae for composting adapted to the different crops, soils, and materials;

(8)       Farm Fences. - With the collection of statistics relating to the subject of farm fences, with suggestions for diminishing their cost, and the conditions under which they may be dispensed with altogether;

(9)       Sales of Fertilizers, Seeds, and Food Products. - With the enforcement and supervision of the laws which are or may be enacted in this State for the sale of commercial fertilizers, seeds and food products, with the authority to make regulations concerning the same;

(10)     Inducement of Capital and Immigration. - With the inducement of capital and immigration by the dissemination of information relative to the advantages of soil and climate and to the natural resources and industrial opportunities offered in this State, by the keeping of a land registry and by the publication of descriptions of agricultural, mineral,  forest, and trucking lands which may be offered the Department for sale; which publication shall be in tabulated form, setting forth the county, township, number of acres, names and addresses of owners, and such other information as may be needful in placing inquiring homeseekers in communication with landowners; and he shall publish a list of such inquiries in the Bulletin for the benefit of those who may have land for sale;

(11)     Diversified Farming. - With such investigations as will best promote the improvement and extension of diversified farming, including the rotation of crops, the raising of home supplies, vegetables, fruits, stock, grasses, etc.;

(12)     Farmers' Institutes. - With the holding of farmers' institutes in the several counties of the State, as frequently as may be deemed advisable, in order to instruct the people in improved methods in farming, in the beneficial use of fertilizers and composts, and to ascertain the wants and necessities of the various farming communities; and may collect the papers and addresses made at these institutes and publish the same in pamphlet form annually for distribution among the farmers of the State. He may secure such assistants as may be necessary or beneficial in holding such institutes;

(13)     Publication of Bulletin. - The Commissioner shall publish bulletins which shall contain a list of the fertilizers and fertilizing materials registered for sale each year, the guaranteed constituents of each brand, reports of analyses of fertilizers, the dates of meeting and reports of farmers' institutes and similar societies, description of farm buildings suited to our climate and needs, reports of interesting experiments of farmers, and such other matters as may be deemed advisable. The Department may determine the number of bulletins which shall be issued each year;

(14)     Reports to Legislature. - He shall transmit to the General Assembly at each session a report of the operations of the Department with suggestions of such legislation as may be deemed needful;

(15)     State Museum. - He shall keep a museum or collection to illustrate the cultural and other resources and the natural history of the State;

(16)     State Agricultural Policies. - Establish State government policies relating to agriculture.

(17)     Agronomic Testing. - Provide agronomic testing services and charge reasonable fees for plant analysis and nematode testing.  The Board shall charge at least four dollars ($4.00) for plant analysis and at least two dollars ($2.00) for nematode testing."

Sec. 5.  G.S. 106-660 reads as rewritten:

"§ 106-660.  Registration of brands; licensing of manufacturers and distributors; fluid fertilizers.

(a)       Each brand of commercial fertilizer for tobacco, specialty fertilizer, fertilizer materials, manipulated manure and fortified mulch shall be registered by the person whose name appears upon the label before being offered for sale, sold or distributed in this State, except those brands expressly produced for experimental and demonstration purposes only. Other fertilizers may be manufactured and sold without registration after obtaining a license as required in G.S. 106-661(a). The application for registration shall be submitted in duplicate to the Commissioner for his approval on forms furnished by the Commissioner, and shall include a fee of two dollars ($2.00) five dollars ($5.00) per brand and grade for all packages greater than five pounds. The registration fee for packages of five pounds or less shall be twenty-five dollars ($25.00). thirty dollars ($30.00).  All approved registrations expire on June 30 of each year. The application shall include such information as deemed necessary by the Board of Agriculture.

(b)       The distributor of any brand and grade of commercial fertilizer shall not be required to register the same if it has already been registered under this Article by a person entitled to do so and such registration is then outstanding.

(c)       The grade of any brand of mixed fertilizer shall not be changed during the registration period, but the guaranteed analysis may be changed in other respects and the sources of materials may be changed: Provided, prompt notification of such change is given to the Commissioner and the change is noted on the container or tag: Provided, further, that the guaranteed analysis shall not be changed if it, in any way, lowers the quality of the fertilizer: Provided, further, that if at a subsequent registration period, the registrant desires to make any change in the registration of a given brand and grade of fertilizer, said registrant shall notify the Commissioner of such change 30 days in advance of such registration. If the Commissioner, after consultation with the director of the agricultural experiment station decides that such change materially lowers the crop producing value of the fertilizer, he shall notify the registrant of his conclusions, and if the registrant registers the brand and grade with the proposed changes, then the Commissioner shall give due publicity to said changes through the Agricultural Review or by such other means as he may deem advisable.

(d)       Any person desiring to manufacture or distribute fertilizers not required to be registered shall first secure a license. Application for said license shall be made on forms provided by the Commissioner and shall be accompanied by a reasonable fee to be determined by the Board of Agriculture. The Board shall charge a maximum of one hundred dollars ($100.00) for said license.  Said license shall be renewable annually on the first day of July. Said license may be suspended, revoked or terminated for a violation of this Article or any rule promulgated thereunder.

(e)       When fluid fertilizer is offered for sale or sold in this State, the method of transfer of custody shall be by weight expressed in pounds, and shall be invoiced in such a manner as to show the name of the seller, the name of the purchaser, the date of sale, the grade, and the net weight; provided, however, that fluid fertilizer may be measured in gallons of 231 cubic inches and its equivalent expressed in pounds, with a formula for converting from gallons to pounds shown on the invoice.

(g)       Before any anhydrous ammonia installation shall be built in this State, a general layout of such installation shall be submitted in duplicate and approved by the Commissioner. In order that such a layout may be approved it must conform to the minimum standards and rules and regulations, relating to safe handling, storage, distribution and/or application adopted by the Board of Agriculture. All storage tanks, transfer or transport containers, applicator containers, and attached equipment shall conform to the minimum standards adopted by the Board of Agriculture. It shall be the duty of the contractors referred to in G.S. 106-657(4) to obtain, maintain and operate in accordance with the minimum standards and rules and regulations adopted by the Board of Agriculture, any and all equipment which he may use in the application of anhydrous ammonia. It shall be the duty of the Commissioner to inspect and ascertain whether or not the provisions of this section are complied with."

Sec. 6.   G.S. 106-284.40 reads as rewritten:

"§ 106-284.40.  Inspection fees and reports.

(a)       An inspection fee at the rate of two cents (2¢) three cents (3¢) for each carton of 48 cans shall be paid on canned pet food distributed in this State by the person whose name appears on the label as the manufacturing distributor or guarantor subject to (b)(1), (2), (3), and (5) of this section.

(b)       An inspection fee at the rate of twelve cents (12¢) per ton shall be paid on commercial feeds distributed in the State by the person whose name appears on the label of the commercial feed as the manufacturer, distributor or guarantor of the commercial feed, subject to the following:

(1)       No fee shall be paid on a commercial feed if the payment has been made by a previous distributor.

(2)       No fee shall be paid on customer-formula feeds if the inspection fee is paid on the commercial feeds which are used as ingredients therein.

(3)       No fee shall be paid on commercial feeds which are used as ingredients or a base for the manufacture of commercial feeds which are registered, if the fee has already been paid. If the inspection fee has already been paid on such commercial feed, the amount paid shall be deducted from the gross amount due on the total feed produced.

(4)       In the case of a commercial feed other than canned pet food which is distributed in the State only in packages of five pounds or less, an annual registration fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) thirty dollars ($30.00) shall be paid in lieu of the inspection fee specified above.

(5)       The minimum inspection fee shall be ten dollars ($10.00) per quarter unless no feed was sold in the State during the quarter.

(6)       Manufacturers of commercial feeds may appear before the Board, and after finding there exists a contract feeder relationship between a manufacturer of commercial feeds and an independent contractor, the Board may issue annual numbered permits exempting that manufacturer of commercial feed from paying the inspection fee assessed by the provisions of this law for that feed delivered to the contract feeder. The manufacturer of ingredients who sells such ingredients to manufacturers of commercial feeds under this subdivision shall have in his possession the exemption number of the permit referred to in G.S. 106-284.34(b) and/or the permit issued by the Board under this subdivision before the supplier may be relieved of the responsibility for payment of the inspection fee. The holder of a valid contract feeder exemption permit shall be exempt from paying the inspection fee on all ingredients purchased for its own use, provided that at least one-half of the ingredients purchased in the previous calendar year were used in feed delivered to contract feeders.

The holder of said permit may voluntarily return said permit to the Commissioner for cancellation at which time said holder may not apply for or receive another exemption permit under this subdivision for a period of 12 months. The exemption permits under this subdivision shall be renewable automatically every year by the Board without additional findings of fact unless it is brought to the Board's attention by the Commissioner or his duly designated officer or employee that there no longer exists the relationship of a contract feeder between the manufacturer of commercial feeds and an independent contractor. In the event the Commissioner or his duly designated officer or employee notifies the Board when the permit is to be automatically renewed or anytime the permit is in effect, that there no longer exists a contract feeder relationship for the permit holder, the Board shall determine the veracity of the notification and revoke said permit if the facts are found to be true by the Board.

Commercial feeds exempt from inspection fees under this subdivision shall not be subject to sampling and analysis other than as may be necessary to determine compliance with good manufacturing practice regulations pertaining to medicated animal feed and medicated feed premixes established under G.S. 106-284.38(4) of this law.

(c)       Each person who is liable for the payment of such fee shall:

(1)       File, not later than the last day of January, April, July and October of each year, a quarterly statement setting forth the number of net tons of commercial feeds and/or cases of canned pet food distributed in this State during the preceding calendar quarter, and upon filing such statements shall pay the inspection fee at the rate stated in subsections (a) and (b) of this section. Inspection fees which are due and owing and have not been remitted to the Commissioner within 15 days following the due date shall have a penalty fee of ten percent (10%) (minimum ten dollars ($10.00)) added to the amount due when payment is finally made. The assessment of this penalty fee shall not prevent the Commissioner from taking other actions as provided in this Chapter.

(2)       Keep such records as may be necessary or required by the Commissioner to indicate accurately the tonnage of commercial feed distributed in this State, and the Commissioner or his duly designated agent shall have the right to examine such records during normal business hours, to verify statements of tonnage. Failure to make an accurate statement of tonnage or to pay the inspection fee or comply as provided herein shall constitute sufficient cause for the cancellation of all registrations on file for the distributor."

Sec. 7.  G.S. 106-284.34 reads as rewritten:

"§ 106-284.34.  Registration.

(a)       No person shall manufacture or distribute a commercial feed in this State, unless he has filed with the Commissioner on forms provided by the Commissioner, his name, place of business, and location of each manufacturing facility in this State, if any, and made application to the Commissioner for a permit to report the quantity of commercial feed distributed in this State.

(b)       Manufacturers of registered feeds may apply for, and the Commissioner at his discretion may issue, numbered permits authorizing manufacturers of registered feeds to purchase commercial feed as defined in G.S. 106-284.33(4), and the responsibility for the payment of the inspection fee assessed by the provisions of this Article will be assumed by the purchaser to whom such permit has been issued. The Commissioner may at his discretion, and without notice, cancel any permit issued under the provision of this section. The use of permits issued under the provisions of this section shall be governed by rules and regulations promulgated by the Commissioner.

(c)       No person shall distribute in this State a commercial feed, except a customer-formula feed, which has not been registered pursuant to the provisions of this section. The application for registration shall be submitted in the manner prescribed by the Commissioner. Upon approval by the Commissioner or his duly designated agent the registration shall be issued to the applicant. All registrations expire on the thirty-first day of December of each year. An annual registration fee of one dollar ($1.00) three dollars ($3.00) for each commercial feed other than canned pet food shall accompany each request for registration. An annual registration fee of five dollars ($5.00) ten dollars ($10.00) for each canned pet food shall accompany each request for registration.

(d)       The Commissioner is empowered to refuse registration of any commercial feed not in compliance with the provisions of this Article and to cancel any registration subsequently found not to be in compliance with any provisions of this Article: Provided, that no registration shall be refused or canceled unless the registrant shall have been given an opportunity to be heard before the Commissioner or his duly designated agent and to amend his application in order to comply with the requirements of this Article.

(e)       The manufacturer of commercial feed that has not been registered and is found being distributed in the State shall pay a twenty-five dollar ($25.00) thirty-dollar ($30.00) delinquent registration fee in addition to the regular registration fee."

Sec. 8.  G.S. 106-50.31 reads as rewritten:

"§ 106-50.31.  Registration of additives.

Every soil additive distributed in North Carolina shall be registered with the Commissioner by the person whose name appears on the label on forms furnished by the Commissioner. The applicant shall furnish such information as the Commissioner may require. In determining the acceptability of any product for registration, the Commissioner may require proof of claims made for the soil additive. If no specific claims are made, the Commissioner may require proof of usefulness and value of the soil additive. As evidence of proof, the Commissioner may rely on experimental data furnished by the applicant and may require that such data be developed by a recognized research or experimental institution. The Commissioner may further require that such data be developed from tests conducted under conditions identical to or closely related to those present in North Carolina. The Commissioner may reject any data not developed under such conditions and may rely on the advice of the Director of the North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station in evaluating data for registration.

The registration fee shall be fifty dollars ($50.00) one hundred dollars ($100.00) per year for each product. Registration shall expire on December 31, annually, unless an application for renewal has been received prior to the expiration date.

The application for registration shall include the following:

(1)       The name and address of the registrant;

(2)       Product name;

(3)       Guaranteed analysis;

a.         Active ingredients (name of each ingredient and percent)

b.         Inert ingredients (name of each ingredient and percent)

(4)       Directions for use;

(5)       Purpose of product.

The application shall be accompanied by the label for the product and all advertisements including brochures, posters, or other information promoting the product. The registrant is responsible for all guaranteed analysis and claims appearing on the label."

Sec. 9.  G.S. 106-21.1 reads as rewritten:

"§ 106-21.1.  Feed Advisory Service; fee.

The Department of Agriculture shall establish, as a pilot program, a Feed Advisory Service for the analysis of animal feeds in order to provide a feeding management service to all animal producers in North Carolina. A fee of five dollars ($5.00) ten dollars ($10.00) shall accompany each feed sample sent to the Department for testing."

Sec. 10.  G.S. 143-452(b) reads as rewritten:

"(b)      Applications for pesticide applicator license shall be in the form and shall contain the information prescribed by the Board. Each application shall be accompanied by a non-refundable fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) thirty dollars ($30.00) for each pesticide applicator's license. In addition, an annual inspection fee of ten dollars ($10.00) shall be submitted for each aircraft to be licensed. Should any aircraft fail to pass inspection, making it necessary for a second inspection to be made, the Board shall require an additional ten dollar ($10.00) inspection fee. In addition to the required inspection, unannounced inspections may be made without charge to determine if equipment is properly calibrated and maintained in conformance with the laws and regulations. All aircraft licensed to apply pesticides shall be identified by a license plate or decal furnished by the Board at no cost to the licensee, which plate or decal shall be affixed on the aircraft in a location and manner prescribed by the Board. No applicator inspection or license fee, original or renewal, shall be charged to State agencies or local governments or their employees. Inspections of ground pesticide application equipment may be made. Any such equipment determined to be faulty or unsafe shall not be used for the purpose of applying a pesticide(s) until such time as proper repairs and/or alterations are made."

Sec. 11.  G.S. 143-448(b) reads as rewritten:

"(b)      Applications for a pesticide dealer license shall be in the form and shall contain the information prescribed by the Board. Each application shall be accompanied by a non-refundable fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00). thirty dollars ($30.00).  All licenses issued under this Part shall expire on December 31 of the year for which they are issued."

Sec. 12.  G.S. 143-455(a) reads as rewritten:

"(a)      No person shall perform services as a pest control consultant without first procuring from the Board a license. Applications for a consultant license shall be in the form and shall contain the information prescribed by the Board. The application for a license shall be accompanied by a non-refundable annual fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00). thirty dollars ($30.00)."

Sec. 13.  G.S. 143-442(b) reads as rewritten:

"(b)      The applicant shall pay an annual registration fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) thirty dollars ($30.00) for each brand or grade of pesticide registered. An additional one hundred dollars ($100.00) two hundred dollars ($200.00) delinquent registration penalty shall be assessed against the registrant for each brand or grade of pesticide which is marketed in North Carolina prior to registration as required by this Article.  In the case of multi-year registration, the annual fee for each year shall be paid at the time of the initial registration, provided that a pro rata refund of the registration fee shall be made to the registrant in the event that registration is canceled by the North Carolina Pesticide Board or by the United States Environmental Protection Agency."

Sec. 14.  G.S. 106-267.1 reads as rewritten:

"§ 106-267.1.  License required; fee; term of license; examination required.

Every person who shall test milk or cream in this State by, or sample milk for, the Babcock method or otherwise for the purpose of determining the percentage of butterfat or milk fat contained therein, where such milk or cream is bought and paid for on the basis of the amount of butterfat contained therein, shall first obtain a license from the Commissioner of Agriculture. Any person applying for such license or renewal of license shall make written and signed application on blanks to be furnished by the Commissioner of Agriculture. The granting of a license shall be conditioned upon the passing by the applicant of an examination, to be conducted by or under the direction of the Commissioner of Agriculture. All licenses so issued or renewed shall expire on December 31 of each year, unless sooner revoked, as provided in G.S. 106-267.3. A license fee of two dollars ($2.00) five dollars ($5.00) for each license so granted or renewed shall be paid to the Commissioner of Agriculture by the applicant before any license is granted."

Sec. 15.  G.S. 106-254 reads as rewritten:

"§ 106-254.  Inspection fees; wholesalers; retailers and cheese factories.

For the purpose of defraying the expenses incurred in the enforcement of this Article, the owner, proprietor or operator of each ice cream factory where ice cream, milk shakes, milk sherbet, sherbet, water ices, mixes for frozen or semifrozen desserts and other similar frozen or semifrozen food products are made or stored, or any cheese factory or butter-processing plant that disposes of its products at wholesale to retail dealers for resale in this State shall pay to the Commissioner of Agriculture each year an inspection fee of twenty dollars ($20.00). forty dollars ($40.00). Each maker of ice cream, milk shakes, milk sherbet, sherbet, water ices and/or other similar frozen or semifrozen food products who disposes of his product at retail only, and cheese factories, shall pay to the Commissioner of Agriculture an inspection fee of five dollars ($5.00) ten dollars ($10.00) each year. The inspection fee of five dollars ($5.00) ten dollars ($10.00) shall not apply to conventional spindle-type milk-shake mixers, but shall apply to milk-shake dispensing and vending machines, which operate on a continuous or automatic basis."

Sec. 16.  G.S. 106-65.31 reads as rewritten:

"§ 106-65.31.  Annual certified applicator card and license fee; registration of servicemen, salesmen, solicitors, and estimators; identification cards.

(a)       Certified Applicator's Card. - The fee for issuance or renewal of a certified applicator's identification card for any one phase or more of structural pest control, as the same is defined in G.S. 106-65.25, shall be thirty dollars ($30.00). Certified applicator's identification cards shall expire on June 30 of each year and shall be renewed annually. All certified applicators who fail or neglect to renew their certified applicator's identification card issued under the provisions of this Article on or before June 30 of each year in which they hold a valid certified applicator's identification card but make application before October 1 of that year shall be renewed without the applicant having to be reexamined unless under the provisions of this Article the applicant is scheduled for periodic reexamination (G.S. 106-65.27(e)(2) 106-65.27(d)(3)). All applicants submitting applications for the renewal of their certified applicator's identification cards after June 30 and before October 1 of that year shall (i) not use or supervise the use of any restricted use pesticides after June 30 of that year until he has been issued a valid certified applicator's identification card and (ii) pay, in addition to the annual certification fee, the sum of five dollars ($5.00) ten dollars ($10.00) for each phase of structural pest control in which he is applying for certification before his certified applicator's identification card is renewed. Any certified applicator whose employment is terminated with a licensee or agent prior to the end of said license year may at any time prior to the end of said license year be reissued a certified applicator's identification card for the  remainder of the license year as an employee of another licensee or agency or as an individual for a fee of five dollars ($5.00).

Any certified applicator whose identification card is lost or destroyed may secure a duplicate identification card for a fee of five dollars ($5.00).

The fees for a certified applicator's identification shall not apply to agents or agencies of the federal, State, or local governments.

(b)       License. - The fee for the issuance of a license for any phase of structural pest control, as the same is defined in G.S. 106-65.25, shall be one hundred dollars ($100.00); one hundred twenty-five dollars ($125.00); provided, that when or any time after the fee for a license for any one phase is paid, the holder of said license may secure a license for either or both of the other two phases for an additional fee of fifty dollars ($50.00) per license phase. Licenses shall expire on June 30 of each year and shall be renewed annually. Any licensee who fails or neglects to renew any license issued under the provisions of this Article on or before August 1 of each year shall pay, in addition to the annual fee, the sum of ten dollars ($10.00) fifteen dollars ($15.00) for each phase before his license is renewed.

Any licensee whose license is lost or destroyed may secure a duplicate license for a fee of five dollars ($5.00). ten dollars ($10.00).

A license holder shall register with the North Carolina Department  of Agriculture within 75 days of employment the names of all certified applicators, estimators, salesmen, servicemen and solicitors (not common laborers) and shall pay a registration fee of twenty dollars ($20.00) twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for each name registered, which fee shall accompany the registration. This registration fee shall not apply to a certified applicator. All registrations expire when a license expires. Each employee of a licensee for whom registration is made and registration  fee paid shall be issued an identification card which shall be carried on the person of the employee at all times when performing any phase of structural pest control work. An identification card shall be renewed annually by payment of a renewal fee of twenty dollars ($20.00). twenty-five dollars ($25.00). An identification card shall be displayed upon demand to the Commissioner, or his authorized representative, or to the person for whom any phase of structural pest control work is being performed. When an identification card is lost or destroyed, the licensee shall secure a duplicate identification card for which he shall pay a fee of one dollar ($1.00). This one dollar ($1.00) fee shall not apply to a certified applicator's identification card. The licensee shall be responsible for registering and securing identification cards for all employees who are estimators, salesmen, servicemen, and solicitors.

It shall be unlawful for an estimator, serviceman, salesman or solicitor to engage in the performance of any work covered by this Article without having first secured and having in his possession an identification card. It shall be unlawful for a licensee to direct or procure any salesman, serviceman or estimator to engage in the performance of any work covered by this Article without having first applied for an identification card for such employee or agent; provided, however, that the licensee shall have 75 days after employing a serviceman, salesman or estimator within which to apply for an identification card.

All registrations and applications for licenses and identification cards shall be filed with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture.

No person shall act as an estimator, serviceman, salesman, solicitor, or agent for any licensee under this Article nor shall any such person be issued an identification card by the Structural Pest Control Committee who has within three years of the date of application for an identification card been convicted of, plead guilty or nolo contendere, or forfeited bond in any court, State or federal, to a crime involving moral turpitude or to any violation of the North Carolina Structural Pest Control Act or to any regulation promulgated  by the Structural Pest Control Committee. This provision shall not apply to any person whose citizenship has been restored as provided by law.

No person or business shall advertise as a contractor for structural pest control services nor actually contract for such services unless that person or business advertises or contracts in the name of the company shown on the license certificate of the licensee or identification card of the certified applicator who will perform the services.

(c)       Notwithstanding any other provision of this law, the Committee may adopt rules to provide for the issuance of licenses, certified applicator's cards, and operator's identification cards with staggered expiration dates and may prorate renewal fees on a monthly basis to implement such rules."

Sec. 17.  G.S. 19A-27 reads as rewritten:

"§ 19A-27.  License required for operation of pet shop.

No person shall operate a pet shop unless a license to operate such establishment shall have been granted by the Director. Application for such license shall be made in the manner provided by the Director. The license shall be for the fiscal year and the license fee shall be twenty-five dollars ($25.00) fifty dollars ($50.00) for each license period or part thereof beginning with the first day of the fiscal year."

Sec. 18.  G.S. 19A-28 reads as rewritten:

"§ 19A-28.  License required for public auction or boarding kennel.

No person shall operate a public auction or a boarding kennel unless a license to operate such establishment shall have been granted by the Director. Application for such license shall be made in the manner provided by the Director. The license period shall be the fiscal year and the license fee shall be twenty- five dollars ($25.00) fifty dollars ($50.00) for each license period or part thereof beginning with the first day of the fiscal year."

Sec. 19.  G.S. 19A-29 reads as rewritten:

"§ 19A-29.  License required for dealer.

No person shall be a dealer unless a license to deal shall have been granted by the Director to such person. Application for such license shall be in the manner provided by the Director. The license period shall be the fiscal year and the license fee shall be twenty-five dollars ($25.00) fifty dollars ($50.00) for each license period or part thereof, beginning with the first day of the fiscal year."

Sec. 20.  G.S. 81A-52 reads as rewritten:

"§ 81A-52.  License.

All public weighmasters shall be licensed. Any person not less than 18 years of age who wishes to be a public weighmaster shall  apply to the Department on a form provided by the Department. The Board may adopt rules for determining the qualifications of the applicant for a license. Public weighmasters shall be licensed for a period of one year beginning the first day of July and ending on the thirtieth day of June, and a fee of ten dollars ($10.00) twelve dollars ($12.00)          shall be paid for each person licensed at the time of the filing of the application."

Sec. 21.  G.S. 81A-54 reads as rewritten:

"§ 81A-54.  Official seal of the public weighmaster.

It shall be the duty of every public weighmaster to obtain from the Department an official seal for the sum of five dollars ($5.00), six dollars ($6.00), inscribed with the following words: 'North Carolina Public Weighmaster' and any other design or legend the Commissioner considers necessary. The seal shall be stamped or impressed on every certificate issued pursuant to this Article. The weighers of tobacco in leaf tobacco warehouses may use, instead of the seal, their signatures in ink or other indelible substance posted in a conspicuous and accessible place in the warehouse. All seals remain the property of the State and shall be returned to the Commissioner upon termination of duties as a public weighmaster."

Sec. 22.  Rules amended to comply with this act may be filed as temporary rules pursuant to G.S. 150B-13, and shall become permanent without any further rule-making procedures.

Sec. 23.  This act shall become effective July 1, 1989, except that rules may be adopted and filed to implement it at any time after ratification.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 30th day of June, 1989.