Kansas Statutes

Chapter 2: Agriculture

Article 13: Weeds

Statutes:

• 2-1301:
• 2-1302 to 2-1305:
• 2-1306:
• 2-1307 to 2-1310:
• 2-1311 to 2-1313:
• 2-1314: Noxious weeds; control and eradication; listing.
• 2-1314a:
• 2-1314b: Noxious weeds; declaration of multiflora rose, bull thistle as noxious authorized.
• 2-1315: Control of noxious weeds; control districts; duties of secretary; cooperation of secretary, county agents and county weed supervisors; rules and regulations.
• 2-1316: Weed supervisors; duties; salary, how borne; annual report.
• 2-1316a: Weed supervisors; bond.
• 2-1317: Conferences; reports to state board.
• 2-1318: County weed supervisors to determine extent of infestation; annual report; tax levies by counties, townships and cities; city may budget in general fund; use of proceeds.
• 2-1319: Control and eradication of noxious weeds; payment of costs; sale of chemicals for use on private property, price.
• 2-1320: Unpaid costs of labor or material; itemized statement and notice to owner; penalties and interest; liens; copy of notice to register of deeds and county or city clerk; lien payable upon sale or transfer of ownership.
• 2-1321: Filing of protests; hearings; appeals.
• 2-1322: Purchase and use of equipment and chemicals; sale of chemicals, price; charges for use of machinery and equipment; record of purchases, sales and charges.
• 2-1323: Penalty for violations.
• 2-1324: Invalidity of part.
• 2-1325: Unlawful acts; disposal of screenings and materials.
• 2-1326: Same; disposal of infested plants, materials or fertilizers.
• 2-1327: Same; harvesting and other machines; labeling.
• 2-1328: Same; infested livestock feed material.
• 2-1329: Same; unprocessed livestock feed.
• 2-1330: Entry upon and inspection of property.
• 2-1331: Notification of owner of lands infested with noxious weeds; inspection; notice requiring fall treatment, when; legal notice, contents.
• 2-1332: Notice of entry upon lands to control weeds; costs; statement, contents; filing with register of deeds and county clerk; liens, payable on sale or transfer of ownership.
• 2-1333: County option for discount program to control noxious weeds; petition to establish program, election and procedures.
• 2-1334: Control and eradication of sericea lespedeza; research and demonstration efforts.

• 2-1301:

        History:   R.S. 1923, § 2-1301; Repealed, L. 1937, ch. 1, § 12; Feb. 26.

• 2-1302 to 2-1305:

        History:   L. 1895, ch. 359, §§ 2 to 5; R.S. 1923, §§ 2-1302 to 2-1305; Repealed, L. 1937, ch. 1, § 12; Feb. 26.

• 2-1306:

        History:   R.S. 1923, § 2-1306; Repealed, L. 1937, ch. 1, § 12; Feb. 26.

• 2-1307 to 2-1310:

        History:   L. 1895, ch. 359, §§ 7 to 10; R.S. 1923, §§ 2-1307 to 2-1310; Repealed, L. 1937, ch. 1, § 12; Feb. 26.

• 2-1311 to 2-1313:

        History:   L. 1931, ch. 5. §§ 1 to 3; Repealed, L. 1937, ch. 1, § 12; Feb. 26.

• 2-1314: Noxious weeds; control and eradication; listing. It shall be the duty of persons, associations of persons, the secretary of transportation, the boards of county commissioners, the township boards, school boards, drainage boards, the governing body of incorporated cities, railroad companies and other transportation companies or corporations or their authorized agents and those supervising state-owned lands to control the spread of and to eradicate all weeds declared by legislative action to be noxious on all lands owned or supervised by them and to use such methods for that purpose and at such times as are approved and adopted by the Kansas department of agriculture. The term noxious weeds shall mean kudzu (Pueraria lobata), field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis), Russian knapweed (Centaurea repens), hoary cress (Cardaria draba), Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense), quackgrass (Agropyron repens), leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula), bur ragweed (Ambrosia grayii), pignut (Hoffmannseggia densiflora), musk (nodding) thistle (Carduus nutans L.), Johnson grass (Sorghum halepense) and sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata).

        History:   L. 1937, ch. 1, § 1; L. 1945, ch. 3, § 1; L. 1961, ch. 4, § 1; L. 1963, ch. 6, § 1; L. 1972, ch. 4, § 1; L. 1975, ch. 427, § 1; L. 1981, ch. 8, § 1; L. 1998, ch. 85, § 2; L. 1998, ch. 85, § 3; L. 2004, ch. 101, § 189; July 1.

• 2-1314a:

        History:   L. 1945, ch. 3, § 2; L. 1947, ch. 7, § 1; Repealed, L. 1988, ch. 3, § 4; July 1.

• 2-1314b: Noxious weeds; declaration of multiflora rose, bull thistle as noxious authorized. (a) The board of county commissioners of any county may declare the multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora) or the bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare), or both, to be a noxious weed within the boundaries of such county. In such event, all of the provisions of article 13 of chapter 2 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated which pertain to the control and eradication of noxious weeds shall apply to the control and eradication of the multiflora rose or the bull thistle, or both, within any such county.

        (b)   If the board of county commissioners of any county does not declare the multiflora rose or the bull thistle, or both, to be a noxious weed within the boundaries of such county, a petition requesting the secretary of agriculture to declare the multiflora rose or the bull thistle, or both, to be a noxious weed within the boundaries of such county, signed by not less than 5% of the qualified electors of the county, may be filed with the county election officer of the county. Upon receipt of any such petition, the county election officer shall certify the sufficiency of the petition and submit it to the secretary of agriculture. Thereupon, the secretary of agriculture may declare the multiflora rose or the bull thistle, or both, to be a noxious weed within the boundaries of such county. In such event, all of the provisions of article 13 of chapter 2 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated which pertain to the control and eradication of noxious weeds shall apply to the control and eradication of the multiflora rose or the bull thistle, or both, within any such county.

        History:   L. 1982, ch. 2, § 1; L. 1988, ch. 3, § 3; L. 1998, ch. 85, § 4; L. 1998, ch. 85, § 5; July 1, 2000.

• 2-1315: Control of noxious weeds; control districts; duties of secretary; cooperation of secretary, county agents and county weed supervisors; rules and regulations. The secretary of agriculture is hereby empowered to decide and adopt methods as official for control and eradication of noxious weeds and to publish such methods, and to make and publish such rules and regulations as in the secretary's judgment are necessary to carry into effect the provisions of this act, and to alter or suspend such rules and regulations when necessary. The secretary of agriculture may establish not to exceed five noxious weed control districts within this state and define the boundaries of such districts. Such districts shall be established to provide for the most efficient control and eradication of noxious weeds and for the most economical supervision by the state. The secretary may designate any county as a sericea lespedeza disaster area to provide for the control and eradication of sericea lespedeza within such county. The secretary shall consult with the board of county commissioners of any county prior to designation of such county as a sericea lespedeza disaster area pursuant to this subsection.

        The secretary may consult, advise or render assistance to county and city weed supervisors as to the best and most practical methods of noxious weed control and eradication. It shall be the duty of the county agricultural agent to cooperate with and assist the county weed supervisors in an intensive educational program on weed control. The secretary of agriculture is hereby authorized to enter into agreements with any agencies of the federal government for cooperation in the control and eradication of noxious weeds in Kansas in keeping with the provisions of this act.

        History:   L. 1937, ch. 1, § 2; L. 1957, ch. 7, § 1; L. 1965, ch. 435, § 3; L. 2002, ch. 37, § 1; L. 2004, ch. 96, § 1; July 1.

• 2-1316: Weed supervisors; duties; salary, how borne; annual report. (a) The board of county commissioners of each county shall, and the governing body of any incorporated city or any group of counties or cities may, employ for a stated time each year, with the approval of the secretary of agriculture, a competent person as county, city or district weed supervisor.

        (b)   The weed supervisor shall consult and cooperate with the state division of noxious weeds and with the assistant weed control director appointed for the supervisor's district, make annual surveys of infestations (compile data on areas eradicated and under treatment), and submit an annual report to the county commissioners and to the state division of noxious weeds, to consult and advise upon all matters pertaining to the best and most practical methods for noxious weed control and eradication and to render every possible assistance and direction for the most effective control and eradication within the supervisor's district; investigate or aid in the investigation and prosecution of any violation of this act and report violations of which the supervisor has knowledge to the county attorney.

        (c)   The salary of the county weed supervisor shall be borne as follows: The Kansas department of agriculture to pay not more than one-fourth thereof from any funds available, not less than three-fourths thereof to be paid out of the county noxious weed fund, prorated as may be decided at the time of such employment by the governing body or bodies employing such supervisor.

        (d)   The boards of county commissioners, governing bodies of cities and township boards, with the aid of their weed supervisors, shall make by February 15th each year an annual weed eradication progress report to the secretary of agriculture for the preceding calendar year, on a form supplied by the secretary, and such other weed reports as established by rules and regulations of the secretary of agriculture.

        History:   L. 1937, ch. 1, § 3; L. 1945, ch. 3, § 3; L. 1957, ch. 7, § 2; L. 1995, ch. 32, § 1; L. 2004, ch. 101, § 27; July 1.

• 2-1316a: Weed supervisors; bond. Each county, city and district weed supervisor before entering upon the duties of office, shall execute and file with the county clerk or city clerk, as the case may be, a surety bond, executed by the supervisor as principal and by a corporate surety company, as surety, in the sum of two thousand dollars ($2,000), to be approved by the said clerk, and conditioned on the supervisor faithfully performing all the duties of office, and such supervisor shall promptly pay over to the county treasurer or city treasurer, as the case may be, in behalf of such county or city, all moneys that may come into his or her hands as such weed supervisor, and shall deliver to his or her successor in office all books, records, papers and other property and things belonging to the county or city, as the case may be, or to the said office. The premium for said surety bond shall be paid out of the noxious weed fund by said county or city.

        History:   L. 1953, ch. 10, § 1; June 30.

• 2-1317: Conferences; reports to state board. The secretary of agriculture or the secretary's duly authorized representative and the local district or county weed supervisor shall confer, at such time or times as seems necessary and advisable, with persons and associations of persons, the secretary of transportation, the board of county commissioners, the township boards or other boards and the governing body of cities, railroad companies or other corporations, or their authorized agents, as to the extent of noxious weed infestation on their lands, and the methods deemed best suited to the control and eradication of each kind of noxious weeds within their respective jurisdictions. The county commissioners and the governing body of cities, shall report to the secretary of agriculture as to the extent and the official methods of control and eradication of noxious weeds to be undertaken in any one season in their jurisdiction, subject to the approval of the secretary.

        History:   L. 1937, ch. 1, § 4; L. 1957, ch. 7, § 3; L. 1967, ch. 4, § 1; L. 1975, ch. 427, § 2; L. 2004, ch. 101, § 28; July 1.

• 2-1318: County weed supervisors to determine extent of infestation; annual report; tax levies by counties, townships and cities; city may budget in general fund; use of proceeds. The county weed supervisor of each county is hereby directed and it shall be the duty of the county weed supervisor to ascertain each year the approximate amount of land and highways infested with each kind of noxious weeds and its location in the county, and transmit such information tabulated by cities and townships not later than June 1 of each year, to the secretary of agriculture, board of county commissioners, and to the governing body of each city and township in the district pertaining to such noxious weed infestation in their respective jurisdiction. On the basis of such information the tax levying body of each county, township or incorporated city shall make a tax levy each year for the purpose of paying their part of the cost of control and eradication thereof as provided in this act and, in the case of cities and counties, to pay a portion of the principal and interest on bonds issued under the authority of K.S.A. 12-1774, and amendments thereto, by cities located in the county. Each county, city, and township, separately, shall make a levy each year for such purpose. Any city may budget expenditures for weed control within its general operating fund in lieu of levying a special tax therefor or maintaining a separate noxious weed eradication fund. Moneys collected from such levy, except for an amount to pay a portion of the principal and interest on bonds issued under the authority of K.S.A. 12-1774, and amendments thereto, by cities located in the county, shall be set apart as a noxious weed eradication fund and warrants duly verified by the county or city supervisor if such be employed or if no supervisor be employed, then by county, township or city clerk, as the case may be, may be drawn against this fund for all items of expense incident to control of noxious weeds in such district respectively. Any moneys remaining in the noxious weed eradication fund at the end of any year for which a levy is made under this section may be transferred to the noxious weed capital outlay fund for making of capital expenditures incident to the control of noxious weeds.

        History:   L. 1937, ch. 1, § 5; L. 1957, ch. 7, § 4; L. 1969, ch. 7, § 1; L. 1970, ch. 69, § 1; L. 1973, ch. 3, § 1; L. 1975, ch. 3, § 1; L. 1979, ch. 52, § 22; L. 1982, ch. 5, § 1; L. 1988, ch. 3, § 1; L. 1990, ch. 66, § 12; L. 1999, ch. 154, § 27; L. 2004, ch. 101, § 29; July 1.

• 2-1319: Control and eradication of noxious weeds; payment of costs; sale of chemicals for use on private property, price. (a) The cost of controlling and eradicating noxious weeds on all lands or highways owned or supervised by a state agency, department or commission shall be paid by the state agency, department or commission supervising such lands or highways from funds appropriated to its use; on county lands and county roads, on township lands and township roads, on city lands, streets and alleys by the county, township or city in which such lands, roads, streets and alleys are located, and from funds made available for that purpose; on drainage districts, irrigation districts, cemetery associations and other political subdivisions of the state, the costs shall be paid from their respective funds made available for the purpose. If the governing body of any political subdivision owning or supervising lands infested with noxious weeds within their jurisdiction fails to control such noxious weeds after 15 days' notice directing any such body to do so, the board of county commissioners shall proceed to have proper control and eradication methods used upon such lands, and shall notify the governing body of the political subdivision by certified mail of the costs of such operations, with a demand for payment. The governing body of the political subdivision shall pay such costs from its noxious weed fund, or if no such fund is available, from its general fund or from any other funds available for such purpose. Copy of the statement, together with proof of notification, shall at the same time be filed with the county clerk, and if the amount is not paid within 30 days, such clerk shall spread the amount upon the tax roll of the subdivision, and such amount shall become a lien against the entire territory located within the particular political subdivision, and shall be collected as other taxes are collected.

        (b)   All moneys collected pursuant to this section shall be paid into the county noxious weed eradication fund.

        (c)   As used in this section, "governing body" means the board, body, or persons in which the powers of a political subdivision as a body corporate are vested; and "political subdivision" means any agency or unit of the state authorized to levy taxes or empowered to cause taxes to be levied.

        (d)   On all other lands the owner thereof shall pay the cost of control and eradication of noxious weeds. Except as provided in K.S.A. 2-1333 and amendments thereto, chemical materials for use on privately owned lands may be purchased from the board of county commissioners at a price fixed by the board of county commissioners which shall be in an amount equal to not less than 50% nor more than 75% of the total cost incurred by the county in purchasing, storing and handling such chemical materials. However, once the tax levying body of a county, city or township has authorized a tax levy of 1.5 mills or more, the board of county commissioners may collect from the owner of privately owned lands an amount equal to 75% but not more than 100% of the total cost incurred by the county in purchasing, storing and handling of chemical materials used in the control and eradication of noxious weeds on such privately owned lands. Whenever official methods of eradication, adopted by the secretary of agriculture, are not followed in applying the chemical materials so purchased, the board of county commissioners may collect the remaining portion of the total cost thereof.

        History:   L. 1937, ch. 1, § 6; L. 1957, ch. 7, § 5; L. 1976, ch. 6, § 1; L. 1979, ch. 5, § 1; L. 1991, ch. 4, § 1; L. 1999, ch. 154, § 29; L. 2004, ch. 101, § 30; July 1.

• 2-1320: Unpaid costs of labor or material; itemized statement and notice to owner; penalties and interest; liens; copy of notice to register of deeds and county or city clerk; lien payable upon sale or transfer of ownership. In case the county weed supervisor or city weed supervisor enters upon land or furnishes weed control materials pursuant to a contract or an agreement with an owner, operator or supervising agent of noxious weed infested land for the control of such noxious weeds and, as a result of such weed control methods, there are any unpaid accounts outstanding by December 31 of each year, the county commissioners or governing body of the city shall immediately notify or cause to be notified, such owner with an itemized statement as to the cost of material, labor and use of equipment and further stating that if the amount of such statement is not paid to the county or city treasurer wherein such real estate is located within 30 days from the date of such notice, a penalty charge of 10% of the amount remaining unpaid shall be added to the account and the total amount thereof shall become a lien upon such real estate. The unpaid balance of such account and such penalty charge shall draw interest from the date of entering into such contract at the rate prescribed for delinquent taxes pursuant to K.S.A. 79-2004, and amendments thereto. A copy of the statement, together with proof of notification, shall at the same time be filed with the register of deeds in such county and the county or city clerk, as the case may be, and if such amount is not paid within the next 30 days the county or city clerk, as the case may be, shall spread the amount of such statement upon the tax roll prepared by the clerk and such amount shall become a lien against the entire contiguous tract of land owned by such person or persons of which the portion so treated is all or a part, and shall be collected as other taxes are collected, and all moneys so collected shall be paid into the noxious weed eradication fund, except that not more than 5% of the assessed valuation of the entire contiguous tract of land of which the portion so treated is all or a part shall be spread on the tax rolls against such land in any one year. If any land subject to a lien imposed under this section is sold or transferred, the entire remaining unpaid balance of such account plus any accrued interest and penalties shall become due and payable prior to the sale or transfer of ownership of the property, and upon collection shall be paid to the noxious weed eradication fund.

        History:   L. 1937, ch. 1, § 7; L. 1945, ch. 3, § 4; L. 1957, ch. 7, § 6; L. 1967, ch. 4, § 2; L. 1973, ch. 4, § 3; L. 1982, ch. 5, § 2; L. 1987, ch. 8, § 1; L. 1992, ch. 319, § 10; July 1.

• 2-1321: Filing of protests; hearings; appeals. If any person shall be dissatisfied with the charge made for material or rent of equipment used in the control and eradication of noxious weeds, said person shall, within ten days from the mailing of the account showing such charge, file a protest with the board of county commissioners, who shall hold a hearing thereon and shall have the power to either adjust or affirm such charge. If any person shall be dissatisfied with the decision rendered by the board of county commissioners said person shall within thirty days file a written notice of appeal with the clerk of the district court of the county and thereupon an action shall be docketed in the district court and be tried the same as other actions. Upon the final determination of any change in the account, if any, the county or city clerk shall correct the records in his or her office in accordance therewith.

        History:   L. 1937, ch. 1, § 8; Feb. 26.

• 2-1322: Purchase and use of equipment and chemicals; sale of chemicals, price; charges for use of machinery and equipment; record of purchases, sales and charges. (a) The board of county commissioners, or the governing body of incorporated cities, cooperating with the secretary of agriculture, shall purchase or provide for needed and necessary equipment and necessary chemical material for the control and eradication of noxious weeds. The board of county commissioners of any county or the governing body of any city may use any equipment or materials purchased as provided for in this section, upon the highways, streets and alleys, for the treatment and eradication of weeds which have not been declared noxious by legislative action.

        (b)   Except as provided in K.S.A. 2-1333 and amendments thereto, the board of county commissioners shall sell chemical material to the landowners in their jurisdiction at a price fixed by the board of county commissioners which shall be in an amount equal to not less than 50% nor more than 75% of the total cost incurred by the county in purchasing, storing and handling such chemical materials used in the control and eradication of noxious weeds, and may make such charge for the use of machines or other equipment and operators as may be deemed by them sufficient to cover the actual cost of operation. However, once the tax levying body of a county, city or township has authorized a tax levy of 1.5 mills or more, the board of county commissioners may collect from the landowners in their jurisdiction an amount equal to 75% but not more than 100% of the total cost incurred by the county in purchasing, storing and handling of chemical materials used in the control and eradication of noxious weeds.

        (c)   Whenever official methods of eradication adopted by the secretary of agriculture are not used in applying the chemical material purchased, the board of county commissioners may collect the remaining portion of the total cost thereof from the landowner.

        (d)   The board of county commissioners, township boards, and the governing body of cities shall keep a record showing purchases of material and equipment for control and eradication of noxious weeds. The board of county commissioners and the governing body of cities shall also keep a complete itemized record showing sales for cash or charge sales of material and shall maintain a record of charges and receipts for use of equipment owned by each county or city on public and private land. Such records shall be open to inspection by citizens of Kansas at all times.

        History:   L. 1937, ch. 1, § 9; L. 1945, ch. 3, § 5; L. 1957, ch. 7, § 7; L. 1976, ch. 6, § 2; L. 1979, ch. 5, § 2; L. 1988, ch. 3, § 2; L. 1991, ch. 4, § 2; L. 1999, ch. 154, § 30; L. 2004, ch. 101, § 31; July 1.

• 2-1323: Penalty for violations. Any person, association of persons, corporation, county or city or other official who shall violate or fail to comply with any of the provisions of this act and acts amendatory thereof or supplemental thereto shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished upon conviction thereof by a fine of $100 per day for each day of noncompliance up to a maximum fine of $1,500.

        History:   L. 1937, ch. 1, § 10; L. 1957, ch. 7, § 8; L. 1995, ch. 215, § 1; July 1.

• 2-1324: Invalidity of part. Should it be decided upon final judicial hearing that any section or clause of this act is invalid such decision shall only apply to the section or clause so found to be invalid and shall not invalidate the entire act.

        History:   L. 1937, ch. 1, § 11; Feb. 26.

• 2-1325: Unlawful acts; disposal of screenings and materials. It shall be unlawful for any person, company or corporation to sell, offer for sale, barter, give away or otherwise dispose of any screening or offal material containing seeds of weeds mentioned in K.S.A. 2-1314 unless such screenings and materials shall first have been processed by grinding or other adequate means, and the viability of all such weed seeds therein destroyed provided, unprocessed screenings or offal materials may be sold to a commercial processor or commercial feed mixer for processing.

        History:   L. 1945, ch. 3, § 6; March 20.

• 2-1326: Same; disposal of infested plants, materials or fertilizers. It shall be unlawful for any person, company or corporation to sell, barter or give away nursery stock, plants, packing materials, animal fertilizer and soil or sod for landscaping or fertilizer uses which contains or is infested with noxious weed plant material or seeds.

        History:   L. 1945, ch. 3, § 7; March 20.

• 2-1327: Same; harvesting and other machines; labeling. It shall be unlawful for any person, company or corporation to (1) bring any harvesting or threshing machinery, portable feed grinders, portable seed cleaners, or field ensilage cutters or other farm vehicles or machinery into the state without first cleaning such equipment free from all weed seed and litter, or (2) to move any harvesting or threshing machines, portable feed grinders, portable seed cleaners or field ensilage cutters from any field or farm infested with any noxious weed without first cleaning such equipment free from all weed seed and litter. Each such machine operated by a person doing work for another shall be labeled with an appropriate label on a form provided by the secretary of agriculture containing this section of the law.

        History:   L. 1945, ch. 3, § 8; L. 1957, ch. 7, § 9; L. 2004, ch. 101, § 32; July 1.

• 2-1328: Same; infested livestock feed material. It shall be unlawful for any person, company or corporation to sell or offer for sale, barter or give away any livestock feed material which is infested with seeds of noxious weeds unless such feed material shall first have been processed and the viability of all noxious weed seeds present therein destroyed, except such feeds (1) may be sold for consumption on the same farm where grown or (2) may be sold to commercial processors or commercial feed mixers.

        History:   L. 1945, ch. 3, § 9; March 20.

• 2-1329: Same; unprocessed livestock feed. It shall be unlawful for any person, company or corporation to feed to livestock, except on the premises where grown or when purchased from a grower or dealer within the state, any grains, crops or other material containing the seeds of noxious weeds, without first having processed same as to destroy the viability of all such weed seeds.

        History:   L. 1945, ch. 3, § 10; March 20.

• 2-1330: Entry upon and inspection of property. County commissioners, township boards, city officials and state, county and city weed supervisors shall have at all reasonable times, free access to enter upon premises and to inspect property, both real and personal, regardless of location, in connection with the administration of the state weed law.

        History:   L. 1945, ch. 3, § 11; L. 1957, ch. 7, § 10; June 29.

• 2-1331: Notification of owner of lands infested with noxious weeds; inspection; notice requiring fall treatment, when; legal notice, contents. (a) When a county weed supervisor has knowledge that any land in the supervisor's county is infested, in any current year, with any noxious weed, the supervisor shall give notice, by publication of a general notice in the official county newspaper pursuant to subsection (b) or an official notice by mail, of such infestation to the person, association of persons, governmental agency, corporation or agent thereof, which owns the land. As used in this section, governmental agency means the state or any agency or political subdivision thereof or the government of the United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof. In the event the land is under the control or supervision of an operator or supervising agent, the notice shall also be mailed to the operator or supervising agent. Such notice shall contain the procedures described in the Kansas official methods and regulations for the control and eradication of any noxious weed found on the land and shall contain a specified time within which the owner, operator or supervising agent shall complete the required treatment for the control or eradication of any such noxious weed.

        (b)   On or before March 1 of each year, the secretary of agriculture shall notify in writing each county weed supervisor of a general notice of noxious weed infestation, as established by rules and regulations. On or before April 1 of each year, the county weed supervisor may publish in the official county newspaper the general notice of noxious weed infestation which shall remain in effect until March 31 of the following year. The cost of such publication shall be paid from the noxious weed eradication fund.

        (c)   If an inspection, by the county weed supervisor, made on or after the completion date stated in the official notice prescribed under subsection (a) or publication of the general notice under subsection (b), reveals satisfactory treatment progress has not been made, the county weed supervisor may send, by certified mail, to the owner and to the operator or supervising agent of the noxious weed infested land a legal notice as described in subsection (e).

        (d)   In the event the county weed supervisor determines that musk thistle plants which are found on land in the supervisor's county have reached a stage of maturity where weed control methods applied currently would not give satisfactory results, the supervisor may give legal notice requiring fall treatment to be performed in the current year.

        (e)   Legal notice given to the owner and to the operator or supervising agent of any noxious weed infested land shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

        (1)   A legal description of the noxious weed infested land;

        (2)   the name of the owner and operator or supervising agent of the noxious weed infested land, as shown by records of the county clerk;

        (3)   the approximate acreage of each noxious weed in the infestation or infestations involved;

        (4)   a copy of the Kansas official methods and regulations applicable for controlling each named noxious weed;

        (5)   a specified time, within which noxious weed control methods are required to be completed; such specified time shall not be less than five days after mailing of the notice;

        (6)   a statement that unless the owner, operator or supervising agent completes the required noxious weed control methods within the specified time, the county weed supervisor may enter or cause to be entered upon the noxious weed infested land as often as is necessary and use such approved methods as are best adapted for the eradication and control of noxious weeds on the particular area of land;

        (7)   a statement to inform the owner, operator or supervising agent that they may be prosecuted pursuant to K.S.A. 2-1323, and amendments thereto, and if convicted, fined as established by law.

        (f)   Prior to issuing any legal notice pursuant to subsection (c) or (d), the county weed supervisor shall notify the owner, operator or supervising agent by telephone call, personal contact or first class mail of the noxious weed infestation.

        History:   L. 1973, ch. 4, § 1; L. 1986, ch. 6, § 1; L. 1995, ch. 32, § 2; L. 2004, ch. 101, § 33; July 1.

• 2-1332: Notice of entry upon lands to control weeds; costs; statement, contents; filing with register of deeds and county clerk; liens, payable on sale or transfer of ownership. In the event the county weed supervisor enters or causes entry upon land to control any noxious weed infestation, after service of legal notice, such supervisor shall immediately notify or cause to be notified, by certified mail, the owner of such land with an itemized statement of the costs of treatment. Such costs of treatment shall include the total cost of material, labor and use of equipment. Such statement shall include a penalty charge of 10% of the total amount of treatment costs. The unpaid balance of any such treatment costs including such penalty charge shall draw interest from the date of treatment at the rate prescribed for delinquent taxes pursuant to K.S.A. 79-2004, and amendments thereto. A copy of such statement, together with proof of notification, shall at the same time be filed with the register of deeds in such county and the county clerk, and if such amount is not paid within 30 days from the date of mailing of such notice the county clerk shall record the amount of such statement upon the tax roll prepared by such county clerk and such amount shall become a lien against the entire contiguous tract of land owned by such person or persons of which the portion so treated is all or a part, and shall be collected as other taxes are collected and all moneys so collected shall be paid into the noxious weed eradication fund, except that not more than 10% of the assessed valuation of the entire contiguous tract of land of which the portion so treated is all or a part shall be recorded on the tax rolls against such land in any one year. If any land subject to a lien imposed under this section is sold or transferred, the entire remaining unpaid balance of such account plus any accrued interest and penalties shall become due and payable prior to the sale or transfer of ownership of the property, and upon collection shall be paid to the noxious weed eradication fund.

        History:   L. 1973, ch. 4, § 2; L. 1982, ch. 5, § 3; L. 1987, ch. 8, § 2; L. 1992, ch. 319, § 11; July 1.

• 2-1333: County option for discount program to control noxious weeds; petition to establish program, election and procedures. (a) The board of county commissioners may adopt a resolution to authorize the establishment of a program to provide chemical materials used in the control and eradication of noxious weeds to landowners through chemical dealers on a discount basis.

        (b)   If such program is authorized, the county weed supervisor shall issue discount certificates, prior to the chemicals being purchased from the chemical dealers, to the landowners. Such certificate shall be taken to a chemical dealer and be presented for the purchase of the chemical material. The chemical dealer shall issue an invoice showing the credit amount of the discount certificate. The dealer shall send the certificate and a copy of the invoice to the county weed supervisor. The certificates and invoices shall be turned over to the board of county commissioners, and no more than the stated amount on the certificate shall be reimbursed to the chemical dealers. The discount certificates shall be paid from the noxious weed fund.

        (c)   If such program is authorized, on January 1 of each year, the board of county commissioners shall determine the amount of money that may be used from the noxious weed fund to provide for the control and eradication of noxious weeds on privately owned land. The board shall state the dollar amount the county shall pay per unit for the purchase of chemical materials used on privately owned lands. Whenever official methods of eradication, adopted by the secretary of agriculture, are not followed in applying the chemical materials, the board of county commissioners may refuse to pay the discount certificate and the total cost shall be paid by the private landowner.

        (d) (1)   If a board of county commissioners does not issue discount certificates as provided in subsection (b), a petition to submit a proposition calling for an election to establish the program to provide chemical materials used in the control and eradication of noxious weeds to landowners through chemical dealers on a discount basis may be filed with the county election officer. Such petition shall be signed by qualified voters of the county equal in number to not less than 5% of the voters of the county who voted for the office of secretary of state at the last preceding general election at which such officer was elected.

        (2)   Upon the submission of a valid petition calling for an election pursuant to this subsection, the county election officer shall submit the question of whether the program as provided in this section shall be established in such county at the next state or county-wide regular or special election which occurs more than 60 days after the petition is filed with the county election officer.

        (3)   If a majority of the votes cast and counted are in opposition to establishing the program as provided in this section in such county, the county election officer shall transmit a copy of the result to the secretary of state who shall publish in the Kansas register the result of such election and the program as provided in this section shall not be established in such county.

        (4)   If a majority of the votes cast and counted are in favor of the proposition, the county election officer shall transmit a copy of the results to the secretary of state who shall publish in the Kansas register the result of such election and that the program as provided in this section shall be established in such county within 18 months.

        (5)   The election provided for by this section shall be conducted, and the votes counted and canvassed, in the manner provided by law for question submitted elections of the county, except that the county election officer shall publish in the official county newspaper a notice of such election once each week for two consecutive weeks, the first publication to be not less than 21 days before the election, and such notice shall state the date and time of the election and the proposition that will appear on the ballot.

        History:   L. 1991, ch. 4, § 3; L. 2002, ch. 78, § 1; L. 2004, ch. 101, § 34; July 1.

• 2-1334: Control and eradication of sericea lespedeza; research and demonstration efforts. (a) The purpose of this act is to provide for the coordination, enhancement and continuation of federal, state and local efforts as well as public and private efforts to develop an effective and affordable method of controlling or eradicating sericea lespedeza and to encourage communication of information about sericea control methods to landowners and land managers.

        (b)   The secretary of agriculture in cooperation with the secretary of wildlife and parks shall designate an appropriate parcel of land as a research area to study and demonstrate methods of controlling or eradicating sericea lespedeza. Such site shall be designated on land managed by the department of wildlife and parks at toronto lake and shall be utilized to provide a focal point for activities that further the purposes of this act.

        (c)   The research and demonstration efforts conducted on the site designated as provided in subsection (b) shall include a variety of methods used to control or eradicate sericea lespedeza and shall include utilization of experiment and demonstration plots and development of field days and workshops to demonstrate methods of control or eradication of sericea lespedeza.

        (d)   The secretary of agriculture and the secretary of wildlife and parks shall have authority to request assistance from any federal, state or local authority, from any public or private university or other research institution, from any business organization, or from any individual in furthering the purposes of this act. All such entities are hereby requested to cooperate with the secretary of agriculture and the secretary of wildlife and parks in furthering the purposes of this act.

        History:   L. 2002, ch. 28, § 1; L. 2004, ch. 96, § 2; July 1.