§19-12-3. Commissioner to enforce article; powers and duties generally.

(a) It shall be the duty of the commissioner to exercise the powers and duties imposed upon him or her by this article for the purpose of protecting agricultural, horticultural and other interests of the state from plant pests or other insects and noxious weeds and for this purpose the commissioner is hereby authorized and empowered to promulgate such legislative rules, in accordance with the provisions of chapter twenty-nine-a of this code, as are necessary to effectively eradicate, suppress or control plant pests or other insects or noxious weeds or to retard the dissemination of plant pests or other insects or noxious weeds as far as may be practical and to employ or contract with such persons as may be appropriate.

(b) The commissioner is hereby authorized and empowered to cooperate with the federal government and any agencies, departments and instrumentalities thereof, the State of West Virginia and any agencies, departments, divisions or political subdivisions thereof and any other state or commonwealth and any agencies, departments or political subdivisions thereof, in order to carry out the effective administration of this article.

(c) The commissioner is empowered to enter into compliance agreements with any person engaged in growing, handling or moving articles, plants or plant products regulated by the provisions of this article.