Moving items through transitional facilities

[Section effective January 1, 2028.] (a) Upon notification by the department, items at a pier, airport, or other place where the items are first received may be transported to a transitional facility suitable for the items. (b) Items transported pursuant to subsection (a) shall be transported in a manner that they will not spread or be likely to spread any infestation or infection of insects or diseases that may be present. (c) All costs and expenses incident to the use of a transitional facility shall be borne by the importer or the importer's agent. For the purposes of this subsection, "import" (and any nounal, verbal, adjectival, adverbial, and other equivalent for the term used interchangeably in this subsection) means to bring or attempt to bring goods or products into the State, and includes items labeled or designated as samples, even if not intended for retail sale, subject to this chapter. (d) No items shall be transported out of a transitional facility unless: (1) Authorized by the department; or (2) Certified by a biosecurity compliance auditor that the items are free of diseases, infections, infestations, and other items that the department deems relevant.