INSPECTORS.

(a) The commissioners court of a county in which the commission conducts tick eradication may nominate the number of local inspectors found by the commission to be necessary for tick eradication in that county. The commission shall appoint those persons nominated unless, following appointment of local inspectors, the commission finds that the county is trying to retard tick eradication or is nominating persons who are incompetent or negligent in the performance of duty. In that case, the commission may ignore the nominations of the county.

(b) If a commissioners court fails or refuses to nominate persons as local inspectors, the commission shall appoint local inspectors without nomination.

(c) Local inspectors work under the direction and orders of the commission and are subject to discharge by the commission. The commission shall fix and the state shall pay the salaries of local inspectors, but a county may pay the salary and traveling expenses of a local inspector.

(d) The commission may employ county and district supervising inspectors without nomination by the commissioners courts.

(e) Only an inspector appointed for the purpose may conduct tick eradication or issue permits and certificates certifying animals to be free from ticks or exposure to ticks. An inspector shall issue those permits and certificates in accordance with the rules of the commission.