Article 5. Implementation And Voting Procedures of California Food And Agricultural Code >> Division 22. >> Part 2. >> Chapter 19. >> Article 5.

(a) Within 15 days of the effective date of this section, the secretary shall establish a list of handlers eligible to vote on implementation of this chapter. In establishing the list, the secretary may require that producers, handlers, manufacturers, county agricultural commissioners, and others submit the names and mailing addresses of all known handlers. The secretary may also require that the information provided include the quantity of dates handled by handlers or, in the alternative, may establish procedures for receiving the information at the time of the vote specified in Section 77812. The request for the information shall be in writing, and the requested information shall be filed within 10 days following receipt of the request.
  (b) Any handler whose name does not appear on the list may have his or her name placed on the list by filing with the secretary a signed statement identifying himself or herself as a handler. The absence of a handler's name from the list does not exempt the handler from paying assessments and does not invalidate any industry votes conducted pursuant to this article.
  (c) Proponents and opponents of the commission may contact handlers on the lists in a form and manner prescribed by the secretary if all expenses associated with those contacts are paid in advance.

This chapter, except as necessary to conduct an implementation referendum vote, shall not become operative until the secretary finds, in a referendum vote conducted by the secretary, that at least 40 percent of the total number of handlers from the list established by the secretary pursuant to this article have participated and that either of the following has occurred:
  (a) Sixty-five percent or more of the handlers who voted in the referendum voted in favor of this chapter, and the handlers so voting handled a majority of the total quantity of dates in the preceding season by all of the handlers who voted in the referendum.
  (b) A majority of the handlers who voted in the referendum voted in favor of this chapter, and the handlers so voting handled 65 percent or more of the total quantity of dates in the preceding marketing year by all of the handlers who voted in the referendum.

(a) The secretary shall establish a period to conduct the referendum that shall not be less than 10 days or more than 60 days in duration, and may prescribe additional procedures that may be necessary to conduct the referendum.
  (b) If the initial period established is less than 60 days, the secretary may extend the period to not more than 60 days.

The failure of a handler to receive a ballot shall not invalidate a referendum.

If the secretary finds that a favorable vote has been given as provided in this article, the secretary shall certify and declare this chapter operative and give notice of the favorable vote to all handlers whose names and addresses are on file with the secretary.

If the secretary finds that a favorable vote has not been given as provided in this article, the secretary shall certify and declare this chapter inoperative. The secretary may conduct another implementation referendum vote one or more years after the previous vote was taken.

Upon certification of the commission, the eligible handler members and alternates of any body operating pursuant to an existing federal marketing order for dates comprise the initial membership of the commission. Thereafter, persons to be elected to the commission shall be selected pursuant to nomination and elections procedures that are established by the commission with the concurrence of the secretary. For purposes of elections, the vote of each handler shall be weighted by the pounds of dates handled during the immediately preceding marketing year.

(a) Prior to the secretary holding the referendum pursuant to this article, the proponents of the commission shall deposit with the secretary any amounts that the secretary determines necessary to defray the expenses of preparing the necessary lists and information and conducting the referendum.
  (b) Any funds not used in carrying out this article shall be returned to the proponents of the commission who deposited the funds with the secretary.
  (c) Upon the establishment of the commission, the commission may reimburse the proponents of the commission 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 commission.