Article 7. Referendum For Voluntary Fee Payment of California Food And Agricultural Code >> Division 22. >> Part 2. >> Chapter 2. >> Article 7.

Whenever a petition is presented to the director which has been signed by 2,000, or more, of the total producers in the state, not more than six months prior to its presentation to the director, the director shall conduct a referendum among producers to ascertain whether they favor the carrying on of a voluntary promotion and research program for beef as prescribed in Section 64661. At the time any person starts to circulate such a petition, he shall notify the director of such action. The director shall establish the period of time during which such referendum shall be conducted which shall be not less than 30 days nor more than 90 days.

The director shall count and tabulate the ballots received, and announce the results at the close of the referendum period. If the director finds from the ballots cast that 40 percent or more of all producers, as determined from a list to be established by the director, have voted and that not less than 65 percent of the total producers that produced not less than 51 percent of the volume of the commodity in the state or not less than 51 percent of the total producers that produced not less than 65 percent of the volume of the commodity in the state voting in such referendum favor carrying on a voluntary promotion and research program, the director shall declare the program a voluntary promotion and research program.

If the promotion and research program is declared to be voluntary, Section 64695 shall become operative and funds for the administration and enforcement of this chapter shall be provided by voluntary contributions rather than mandatory fees.

If the director finds that the referendum did not receive the required votes in favor of a voluntary promotion and research program pursuant to Section 64672, he shall declare this result and shall instruct the council to carry on the current program.

If the voluntary promotion and research program does not receive the required favorable vote or if less than the required number of producers have voted, another referendum shall not be petitioned for until after the expiration of a period of two years from the date of the referendum which failed.

No referendum shall be conducted pursuant to this article until after the expiration of a period of two years from the effective date of this article.