Section 77663 Of Article 8. Continuation Or Suspension And Termination From California Food And Agricultural Code >> Division 22. >> Part 2. >> Chapter 18. >> Article 8.
77663
. (a) Upon a finding by a two-thirds vote of the commission
that the operation of this chapter has not tended to effectuate its
declared purposes, the commission may recommend to the secretary that
the operation of this chapter be suspended. However, any suspension
shall not become effective until the expiration of the current
marketing year.
(b) The secretary shall, upon receipt of the recommendation, or
may, after a public hearing to review a petition filed with the
secretary requesting a suspension signed by not less than 20 percent
of the producers who sold or acquired not less than 20 percent of the
total volume of timber in the immediately preceding marketing year,
hold a referendum among the producers to determine if the operations
of the commission shall be suspended. However, the secretary shall
not hold a referendum as a result of the petition, unless the
petitioner shows, by a preponderance of the evidence, in a manner
prescribed by the secretary, that the operation of this chapter has
not tended to effectuate its declared purposes.
(c) The secretary shall establish a referendum period, that shall
not be less than 10 days or more than 60 days. The secretary may
prescribe additional procedures as may be necessary to conduct the
referendum. At the close of the established 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 list
established by the secretary participate in the referendum, the
secretary shall suspend the operation of this chapter if the
secretary finds either one 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
sold or acquired a majority of the total volume of timber in the
preceding marketing year by all of the producers who voted in the
referendum.
(2) A majority of the producers who voted in the referendum voted
in favor of suspension, and the producers so voting sold or acquired
65 percent or more of the total volume of timber in the preceding
marketing year by all of the producers who voted in the referendum.