62560
. (a) The security charges provided for in Section 62561 shall
be collected until January 1, 2007. Unless otherwise permitted by
this section, the secretary shall thereafter discontinue collection
of the security charges. The fund shall consist of the security
charges collected, the value of any alternative financial instrument,
and acceptable securities provided by handlers pursuant to
subdivision (c).
(b) If, after January 1, 2007, payment of producer claims reduces
the fund cash below thirty million dollars ($30,000,000), the
secretary may resume collecting security charges in order that the
fund cash is thereafter maintained at thirty million dollars
($30,000,000). Security charges necessary to return the fund cash to
thirty million dollars ($30,000,000) shall, subject to subdivision
(c), be collected from all handlers making purchases of milk,
including handlers who have posted acceptable securities pursuant to
subdivision (c).
(c) If, in any month, 110 percent of any handler's average monthly
milk purchases, computed over the preceding 12 months, unless the
increase in value of milk purchases is the result of substantial
business expansion or the result of a merger or acquisition, in which
case the 12-month computation requirement does not apply, exceeds
the fund cash as of the end of that month, or thirty million dollars
($30,000,000) whichever is higher, the secretary shall require that
handler to provide acceptable securities within 10 working days in an
amount equal to the difference between the fund cash or thirty
million dollars ($30,000,000) whichever is higher, and 110 percent of
that handler's average monthly milk purchases. When handlers have
provided acceptable securities covering the difference, the secretary
shall not collect security charges from those handlers for the
portion of their average monthly milk purchases covered by acceptable
securities. Shipments to handlers failing to provide acceptable
securities within 10 working days of notice by the secretary of the
obligation to post acceptable securities, as required by this
subdivision, shall be listed by the secretary as ineligible for
coverage under the fund pursuant to Section 62586.
(d) The secretary shall calculate the value of milk handlers'
average monthly milk purchases at least once each year for those
handlers whose previous average monthly milk purchases exceed twenty
million dollars ($20,000,000). If, as a result of any such
calculation, the secretary determines that a handler must provide
additional acceptable securities to satisfy the requirements of
subdivision (c), that handler shall provide additional acceptable
securities within 10 working days of notice by the secretary.
(e) In the event a handler fails to comply with subdivision (d):
(1) In addition to paying all other amounts required by this
chapter, including any security charges then in effect under
subdivision (a) of Section 62561, that handler shall pay an enhanced
security charge on all purchased milk to be computed as follows:
(A) (i) One and seven-tenths mills per pound ($0.0017) for class 1
fat.
(ii) Nine-tenths mills per pound ($0.0009) for class 1
solids-not-fat.
(iii) One-tenth mill per pound ($0.0001) for class 1 fluid.
(B) (i) Three and two-tenths mills per pound ($0.0032) for classes
2, 3, 4a, and 4b fat.
(ii) One and three-tenths mills per pound ($0.0013) for classes 2,
3, 4a, and 4b solids-not-fat.
(2) A handler shall be liable for the enhanced security charges
required by this section until the handler provides the required
additional acceptable securities to the secretary. Notwithstanding
Section 62521 and subdivision (b) of this section, enhanced security
charges paid pursuant to this paragraph shall be deposited into the
trust fund and become part of the fund cash.
(f) If a handler fails to timely provide acceptable securities, or
additional acceptable securities, as required by this section, the
secretary shall promptly give notice of that fact to all producers
who have a contract on file with the secretary, all cooperative
associations, and other interested parties. A handler failing to post
acceptable securities may also be subject to revocation, suspension,
or nonrenewal or placement of conditions upon the milk handler's
license pursuant to Sections 62146, 62149, and 62151.
(g) In consultation with the Milk Producers Security Trust Fund
Advisory Board, the secretary may consider and use alternative
financial instruments, in addition to, or in lieu of, using security
charges to meet the financial security requirements of this section.