Article 9. Implementation And Voting Procedure For Fishermen of California Food And Agricultural Code >> Division 22. >> Part 2. >> Chapter 16. >> Article 9.

On or before August 15, 1989, the secretary shall establish a list of commercial salmon vessel operators eligible to vote on implementation of this chapter. In establishing the list, the secretary may require that handlers and commercial salmon vessel operators submit the names and mailing addresses of all commercial salmon vessel operators who harvested salmon during the previous season, as evidenced by receipts prepared under Section 8043 of the Fish and Game Code, together with the volume of salmon landed. The secretary may also request the assistance of the Director of Fish and Wildlife for the names of all commercial salmon vessel operators who landed salmon the previous season and the volume of landings for each vessel. The request for the information shall be in writing and shall be subject to the confidentiality provisions of Section 8022 of the Fish and Game Code. The list shall be filed within 30 days following receipt of the written notice.

Any commercial salmon vessel operator whose name does not appear upon the secretary's list of commercial salmon vessel operators affected may have his or her name established on the list by filing with the secretary a signed statement, identifying himself or herself as a commercial salmon vessel operator and furnishing evidence of having made landings the previous year through the submission of receipts prepared under Section 8043 of the Fish and Game Code. Failure to be on the list does not exempt a commercial salmon vessel operator from paying assessments under this chapter.

This chapter, except as necessary to conduct an implementation referendum vote under this article, shall not become operative until the secretary finds in an implementation referendum conducted by the secretary under this article that at least 40 percent of the total number of commercial salmon vessel operators from the list established by the secretary have participated by voting in the referendum, and the secretary finds either of the following:
  (a) Sixty-five percent or more of the commercial salmon vessel operators who voted in the referendum voted in favor of implementing this chapter, and the commercial salmon vessel operators who voted in the referendum marketed 51 percent or more of the total quantity of salmon landed in the preceding fiscal year by all the commercial salmon vessel operators who voted in the referendum.
  (b) Fifty-one percent of the commercial salmon vessel operators who voted in the referendum voted in favor of implementing this chapter, and the commercial salmon vessel operators who voted in the referendum marketed 65 percent or more of the total quantity of salmon landed in the preceding fiscal year by all of the commercial salmon vessel operators who voted in the referendum.

The secretary shall establish a period in which to conduct the implementation referendum that shall not be more than 60 days in duration, and may prescribe additional procedures as may be necessary to conduct the referendum. If the initial period established is less than 30 days, the secretary may extend that period. However, the total referendum period may not exceed 60 days.

(a) Before the referendum vote is conducted by the secretary, the proponents of the council shall deposit with the secretary the amount that the secretary determines is necessary to defray the expenses of preparing the necessary lists and information and conducting the referendum vote.
  (b) Any funds not used in carrying out this article shall be returned to the proponents of the council who deposited the funds with the secretary.
  (c) Upon establishment of the council, the council may reimburse the proponents of the council for any funds deposited with the secretary that were used in carrying out this article, and for any legal expenses and costs incurred in establishing the council.
  (d) After approval by the Commercial Salmon Trollers Advisory Committee created pursuant to Section 7862 of the Fish and Game Code, the Department of Fish and Wildlife may expend funds collected pursuant to Section 7861 of the Fish and Game Code, for payment to the Secretary of Food and Agriculture to pay necessary costs incurred in conducting the implementation referendum vote. If the commercial salmon vessel operators who voted in the implementation referendum voted in favor of implementing this article, as provided in Section 76952, the council shall reimburse the Commercial Salmon Stamp Account in the Fish and Game Preservation Fund all amounts received from that fund.

Nonreceipt of a ballot shall not invalidate a referendum.

(a) If the secretary finds that a favorable vote has been given, the secretary shall so certify and give notice of the favorable vote to all commercial salmon vessel operators whose names and addresses may be on file with the secretary.
  (b) If the secretary finds that a favorable vote has not been given, the secretary shall so certify and declare all provisions of this chapter inoperative.