§2-15-63. Bonds of livestock market operators.

Any person operating a livestock market in this state shall make and execute a bond in favor of the State of Alabama, which bond shall be made by a surety company qualified to do business in the State of Alabama and such bond shall be filed in the office of the commissioner. The minimum amount of such bond shall be $5,000.00 or such greater sum not to exceed $50,000.00. The exact amount of said bond shall be determined by dividing the gross amount of business done by such livestock market during the preceding 12 months or such part thereof as the livestock market was engaged in business by the number of days on which sales were made, and such bond shall be not less than the nearest multiple of $1,000.00. Any bond accepted under the provisions of this section shall be not less than $5,000.00 nor more than $50,000.00. In the event the livestock market has not engaged in business during the year preceding the date of its application for a permit, the amount of the bond shall be determined by the commissioner upon the basis of anticipated business to be done during the year for which a permit is applied. The commissioner shall require a bond in an amount to be arrived at by dividing the gross amount of anticipated business by the number of days on which sales are to be held during the year for which the permit is applied.

Such bond shall be conditioned that the livestock market named therein as principal shall, upon the sale of any livestock, promptly pay to the rightful owners all money received by it, less reasonable expenses and commissions.

Any person having a right of action against the livestock market named as principal in such bond may bring a civil action in his own name against the principal and surety of such bond for the recovery of any loss sustained by the owner of livestock for the violation of the conditions of said bond; provided, however, that the aggregate liability of the surety for all such losses shall in no event exceed the amount of said bond.

The commissioner is hereby authorized to accept a bond made by any livestock market pursuant to the bonding provisions of the federal Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921, as amended, and any livestock market presenting such a bond shall be deemed to have complied with the bonding provisions of this section; provided, that the amount of such bond shall equal or be greater than the amount required under this section. The commissioner is authorized to be designated as trustee in any bond or principal-surety contract or he shall be authorized to designate the director or chief of the division of the department which handles the administration of this division to be designated and named as trustee in any bond accepted as authorized in this section which is made by any livestock market as required under the Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921, as amended.

(Acts 1975, No. 386, p. 950, §4.)