1. Goals of Proposed Chapter 131 Changes
Save Texas Beekeepers Alliance

2. REGISTRATIONS APIARY REGISTRATION BEEKEEPER REGISTRATION
Eliminate Apiary Registration Requirements
BEEKEEPER REGISTRATION
Provisions for beekeeper registration administered by TAIS
Beekeeper Registration is annual
Voluntary – Explicitly prohibit the requirement of mandatory registration by statute.
Fees for beekeeper registration set by 7 member board within limits of proposed Chapter 131 changes.

3. CERTIFICATE OF INSPECTION
The TAIS will make provisions for issuing a Inspection Certificates if requested by a beekeeper.
Certification of inspection states
An apiary has been inspected by the TIAS
Date of the Inspection
The number of hives inspected
Estimated number of hives at the apiary
The apiary inspected is apparently free from reportable disease and reportable pests.
Fees for Certification of Inspection set by 7 member board within limits of proposed Chapter 131 changes.

4. PERMITS ELIMINATE INTRASTATE TRANSPORT PERMIT REQUIREMENT
ELIMINATE EXPORT PERMIT REQUIREMENT
IMPORT PERMIT
Require an import permit for each shipment of colonies transported into the State of Texas
Bees without comb or without honey is not a colony
PERMIT FEES
Permit fees set by a board of 7 people within limits of proposed Chapter 131 changes.

5. TRANSPORTING COLONIES INTO TEXAS
IMPORT PERMIT APPLICATION
Must give
Owner & owner’s address of principal residence
Geographic origination of shipment
Geographic destination of shipment
All colonies located at the destination given on import permit application must be held at destination site from the time the permit is issued until all colonies at the destination site receive a Certificate of Inspection from the Texas Apiary Inspection Service stating that imported colonies are apparently free from reportable disease and reportable pests or other such disposition ordered by TAIS.
Penalties for Violation
Fine not to exceed $10,000
Enforcement
Texas Dept. of Agriculture
County Sheriff in the county of violation

6. APIARY OWNERSHIP IDENTIFICATION
BRANDING
The TAIS maintains a system of registration of beekeeper brands to identify equipment used by the beekeeper. The inspector shall assign a brand number to each beekeeper when the beekeeper requests it.
Either
Hives be marked with owners name & address or registered brand or
A weatherproof sign posted within the apiary containing the name and contact information or the brand number of the owner of the apiary.
An apiary at the principal residence of a beekeeper is exempt from displaying ownership.

7. DISEASE AND PEST DEFINITIONS
Establish a distinction between diseases and reportable diseases
Establish a distinction between pests and reportable pests
Reportable pests and reportable diseases to be determined by a board of 7 people.

8. QUARANTINES, SIEZURES, SEIZE AND DESTROY ORDERS
Criteria, parameters and conditions for a quarantine declaration set by a board of 7 under the proposed Chapter 131 changes.
Apiary Inspectors may issue quarantine declarations within the parameters set by the board.
SIEZURES
Criteria, parameters and conditions for seizures set by a board of 7 under the proposed Chapter 131 changes.
No seized colonies may be sold by
Appeals process for quarantines & Seizures
Two Options
Quarantine & Seizure orders maybe rescinded by the 7 persons board described in proposed Chapter 131 changes
Petition for Appeal applied for no later than 30 days after the quarantine or seizure is ordered.
Relief through Civil Court System

9. COMPENSATION FOR SEIZE AND DESTROY ORDERS
The TAIS may pay an indemnity to the owner of bee colonies infected with a disease if the TIAS considers within the parameters set by the board.\The commission shall provide the owner with information regarding available state or federal indemnity funds.
The 7 member board may adopt rules for the implementation of this section, including rules governing:
Eligibility for compensation;
Amounts of compensation; and
Limits and restrictions on compensation.
Note: Based on Sec of Chapter 161 of the TX Ag. Code

10. SALE OF BEES
No Certificate of Inspection or seller affidavit required for sale or change of ownership of bees
No permit, licensing or minimum education shall be required for raising or for the sale of bees
Stated explicitly by statute in Chapter 131
Not to conflict with Sales Tax laws

11. BEEKEEPING EQUIPMENT Expand Definition of “Equipment” to include:
Electrical power tools such as:
Vacuum, Reciprocating saw, circular saw, drill
STRUCTURAL HIVE REMOVAL
Allow application of certain chemicals during a hive removal such as:
Fume Boards with Bee Commander repellent

12. Definitions
Save Texas Beekeepers Alliance

13. Definitions
"Bee“ – any developmental or adult stage of any species in the genus Apis.
“Honey" – plant nectars that have been transformed by, and is the natural product of, bees and that is in the comb or has been taken from the comb and is packaged in a liquid, crystallized, or granular form and is not altered by additives of any kind.
"Pollen" – male grains, elements or gametophytes formed in the anthers of seed plants
"Colony" – bees living together with comb or honey
“Managed Colony" - a colony in a man-made container or structure used by a beekeeper with intent to provide a cavity for bees.
"Beekeeper" – a person who owns, leases, or manages one or more managed colonies of bees.
"Apiary" – a place where more than 1 managed colony of bees are kept

14. Definitions Continued
"Equipment" – hive bodies, supers, frames, top-bars, veils, gloves, tools, electrical power tools, machines, vacuums, or other devices for the handling and manipulation of bees, honey, pollen, comb including storage or transporting containers for pollen, honey, or comb or other apiary supplies used to comprise or maintain a managed colony or used in the live removal of a feral colony.
"Label" as a noun – written or printed material accompanying a product and furnishing identification or a description. The term includes material attached to a product or its immediate container and material inserted in an immediate container or other packaging of a product.
"Label" as a verb – to attach or insert a label.

15. Definitions Continued
“Board” – the Apiary Regulatory Board defined in proposed Chapter 131.
"Director“ – the director of the Texas Dept. of Agricultural.
"Inspector" means the chief apiary inspector.
“Disease” – any contagious or infectious disease that adversely affects or causes damage or abnormality to bees as determined by the Board.
"Pest“ – an insect, mite, or organism that causes damage or abnormality to bees and that is considered deleterious by the by the Board.
"Reportable disease" and "reportable pest“ – a disease or pest that presents a significant threat to the population of honey bees and that has been designated by the by the Board as a disease or pest that must be reported under Section
"Abandoned apiary”, “abandoned managed colony” – an apiary, or a managed colony of bees that is not regularly maintained or attended in accordance with this chapter or rules or quarantines adopted under this chapter or by the Board.

16. Definition Deletions Delete definition of Nucleus
It is a redundancy of managed colony
Delete definition of "Queen apiary“
Because it is not referred to elsewhere in chapter 131.
Delete definition of “Abandoned Bees”
Current definition applies to feral colonies
Delete definition of “Abandoned Equipment”
CAI should not be allowed to seize a vacuum cleaner, smoker, hive tool, etc.

17. Organizational Proposals
Save Texas Beekeepers Alliance

18. Organizations Under Proposed Chapter 131
Texas Apiary Regulatory Board
1 Texas Apiary Entomologist (Chair)
2 Members appointed by Director of the Texas AgriLife Extension
4 Members appointed by Ag. Commissioner
Texas Department of Agriculture
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Texas Apiary Inspection Service
Limit to 4 Apiary Inspectors by statute
Chief Apiary Inspector
3 Apiary Inspectors
Texas Apiary Entomologist

19. Summary of Changes
Create the office of Texas State Apiary Entomologist within Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Move Texas Apiary Inspection Service under the Texas Dept. of Agriculture
Create of 7 Member Texas Apiary Regulatory Board

20. Texas Apiary Inspection Service Scope
Implement regulations set by Chapter 131 and those set the Texas Apiary Regulatory Board within the limitation of Chapter 131

21. Apiary Regulatory Board
Consists of 7 Persons
1 Chairperson – The chair of the Apiary regulatory Board is automatically occupied by the State Apiary Entomologist of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
2 Members appointed by Director of Texas AgriLife Research
1 scientists specializing in entomology knowledgeable with Apis mellifera
1 crop producer with professional interests in insect assisted crop pollination.
4 Members At-Large appointed by Texas Agricultural Commissioner
2 beekeepers registered with TAIS owning at least a daily average of 500 hives
1 beekeeper registered with TAIS owning no more than a daily average of 500 hives
1 individual registered with TAIS owning no more than a daily average of 25 hives

22. Apiary Regulatory Board Scope
Adopt rules for the purpose to control, eradicate, or prevent the introduction, spread, or dissemination of emerging contagious or infectious diseases of bees and emerging pests of bees to be carried out by the Texas Apiary Inspection Service
Examples:
Determine which pests and diseases are reportable and which are not. constitutes “reportable pests” & “reportable diseases”
Power to rescind extraordinary actions of any Apiary Inspector through appeals process. Example of actions include:
Seize and destroy orders
Quarantines
Colony management practice implementation orders
Set TAIS policy and regulatory objectives within limits to be described in proposed Chapter 131.
Establish Registration & Inspection Fees within the limits of proposed Chapter 131.
Set civil penalties for proposed Chapter 131 violation not to exceed $10,000.00
Board must consider the feral honey bee population, and the impact of that population on the probable efficacy of pest or disease control, eradication or mitigation measures.

23. Apiary Regulatory Board Procedural Provisions
Other than Texas Apiary Entomologist, board members are appointed to 2 year terms
Board holds regular scheduled semi-annual meetings in Texas A & M bee lab.
Special Meetings allowed.
Called by any 3 members of the board
At least 30 days notice of such meeting to be given by registered mail included purpose of the meeting and any business to be brought before the board.
Each member has 1 vote
Written Proxy assignment allowed
State Apiary Entomologist only votes in case of tie
Must follow Roberts Rules of Order for all procedural items not covered by proposed Chapter 131

24. Limitation on Board Determined Rules
The board sets fees for registration, permit & Certification of Inspection within limitations stated by proposed Chapter 131 changes
Migratory Apiary Registration fees not to exceed $2000 per Apiary
Permit to Transport Colonies into the State of Texas
Certification of Inspection
Site Visit Fee not to exceed $
Fees not to exceed $ per hive actually inspected but allow for a 4 hive minimum