(a) Any person, firm, corporation, company, cooperative, association, or other entity is authorized to set up or establish compounds at various places in the state where animals may be taken in order to control, suppress, prevent, and eradicate the equine disease known as "equine infectious anemia" (also known as swamp fever, EIA, and slow fever). It shall be unlawful to establish or operate any such compound without a license issued by the Commissioner. The Commissioner is authorized to issue licenses and to establish, promulgate, and adopt rules, regulations, and standards governing the establishment, construction, design, maintenance, and operation of such compounds. The fee for such licenses shall be $25.00 per annum, and such licenses shall be renewable annually.

(b) The Commissioner is authorized to establish research programs for the purpose of developing a vaccine or method for the control or eradication of such equine disease in this state.