Section 74693 Of Article 8. Continuation Or Suspension And Termination From California Food And Agricultural Code >> Division 22. >> Part 2. >> Chapter 12.5. >> Article 8.
74693
. (a) Upon a finding by a two-thirds vote of the commission
that this chapter has not tended to effectuate its declared purposes,
the commission may recommend to the director that this chapter be
suspended.
(b) Alternatively, the director may be petitioned to suspend this
chapter. The petition shall be signed by 20 percent of the vintners
by number who processed not less than 20 percent of the volume of
winegrapes in the immediately preceding marketing season. The
director shall hold a hearing on the petition after receiving it.
(c) The director shall, upon receipt of the recommendation to
suspend this chapter from the commission, or may, after holding the
hearing on the petition to suspend this chapter, hold a referendum
among the vintners to determine if the commission shall be suspended.
However, the director shall not hold a referendum as a result of the
petition unless the petitioner shows by the weight of evidence that
this chapter has not tended to effectuate its declared purposes.
(d) The director shall establish a referendum period, which shall
not be less than 10 days nor more than 60 days in duration. The
director may prescribe additional procedures as may be necessary to
conduct the referendum. At the close of the referendum period, the
director shall tabulate the ballots filed during the period. If at
least 40 percent of the total number of vintners from the list
established by the director participate in the referendum, the
director shall suspend this chapter if he or she finds either of the
following has occurred:
(1) Sixty-five percent or more of the vintners who voted in the
referendum, voted in favor of suspension; and the vintners so voting
processed a majority of the total quantity of winegrapes processed in
the preceding marketing season by all of the vintners who
participated in the referendum.
(2) A majority of the vintners who voted in the referendum voted
in favor of suspension; and the vintners so voting processed 65
percent or more of the total quantity of winegrapes processed in the
preceding marketing season by all of the vintners who voted in the
referendum.