Section 74993 Of Article 8. Continuation Or Suspension And Termination From California Food And Agricultural Code >> Division 22. >> Part 2. >> Chapter 12.7. >> Article 8.
74993
. (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 secretary that this chapter be
suspended. However, any suspension shall not become effective until
the expiration of the current marketing season.
(b) Alternatively, the secretary may be petitioned to suspend this
chapter. The petition shall be signed by 20 percent of the producers
by number who produced not less than 20 percent of the volume of
winegrapes in the immediately preceding marketing season. The
secretary shall hold a hearing on the petition after receiving it.
(c) The secretary 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 producers to determine if the commission shall be suspended.
However, the secretary 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 secretary shall establish a referendum period, which shall
not be less than 10 days or more than 60 days in duration. The
secretary may prescribe additional procedures as may be necessary to
conduct the referendum. At the close of the referendum period, the
secretary shall tabulate the ballots filed during the period. If at
least 40 percent of the total number of producers from the lists
established by the secretary participate in the referendum, the
secretary shall suspend this chapter if he or she finds either of the
following has occurred:
(1) Sixty-five percent or more of the producers who voted in the
referendum, voted in favor of suspension; and the producers so voting
marketed a majority of the total quantity of winegrapes marketed in
the preceding marketing season by all of the producers who
participated in the referendum.
(2) A majority of the producers who voted in the referendum voted
in favor of suspension; and the producers so voting marketed 65
percent or more of the total quantity of winegrapes marketed in the
preceding marketing season by all of the producers who voted in the
referendum.