Alabama Code Title 2. Agriculture § 2-15-1

The Department of Agriculture and Industries, acting by and through the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries, with approval of the State Board of Agriculture and Industries, is authorized and empowered to enter into contracts with any person, firm, partnership, corporation or association engaged in the business of marketing livestock whereby the Department of Agriculture and Industries, on terms and conditions mutually agreed upon between the parties to such a contract, shall perform any inspection or testing of livestock or any brand inspection or recording duties required by law to be performed by such person, firm, partnership, corporation or association engaged in the business of marketing livestock.

The Department of Agriculture and Industries, under the terms of any contract entered into under the provisions of this section, is authorized to charge and collect fees for services to be performed thereunder, and such fees shall be in an amount mutually agreed upon between the parties to the contract. All amounts collected as fees shall be deposited in the State Treasury to the credit of the Agricultural Fund.

The provisions of this section shall not be construed to require or make it mandatory upon the Department of Agriculture and Industries or anyone to enter into contracts as authorized under this section as it is the intent and purpose of this section that such contracts shall be voluntarily entered into. The amount of fees or compensation to be paid to the Department of Agriculture and Industries under the provisions of any contracts authorized under this section shall be fixed at an amount whereby no cost or additional expenses will be borne by the department in rendering the services to be performed thereunder, nor shall the amount of fees or compensation be fixed at a sum which will produce a profit or any additional revenue to the department, as it is the intent and purpose of this section that such fees or compensation shall be fixed at an amount which will defray the actual cost and expense of the services provided.