It is unlawful for any person, who is employed by any agency or institution that is supported or financed from public funds, willfully or knowingly to neglect or refuse to make a report to the commissioner of the county or to the director, or such person’s immediate superior for the purpose of having such report transmitted to the commissioner of the county or to the director, of the presence in this state of any pest, as defined in Section 5006, which is new to, or not widely distributed in, the area or locality in which the pest exists, if the presence of such pest has been determined as a result of investigation, research, survey, or inspection which is made in behalf of the employing agency or institution.