Section 78963 Of Article 8. Reapproval Of Chapter From California Food And Agricultural Code >> Division 22. >> Part 2. >> Chapter 24.5. >> Article 8.
78963
. (a) Upon a finding by a two-thirds vote of the commission
that this chapter has not tended to effectuate its declared purpose,
the commission may recommend to the secretary that this chapter be
suspended. However, any suspension shall not become effective until
the expiration of the then current marketing season.
(b) Alternatively, the secretary may be petitioned to suspend this
chapter. The petition must be signed by 2 percent of the producers,
by number, who produced not less than 20 percent of the volume of
winegrapes in the immediately preceding marketing season and 20
percent of the vintners, by number, who acquired not less than 20
percent of the volume of winegrapes in the immediately preceding
marketing season.
(c) The secretary shall, upon receipt of the recommendation to
suspend this chapter from the commission, and may, after holding a
hearing on the petition to suspend this chapter, hold a referendum
among the producers and vintners 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 a
preponderance of the evidence that this chapter has not tended to
effectuate its declared purposes.
(d) The secretary shall establish a referendum period that shall
not be less than 10 days nor 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 and 40 percent of
the total number of vintners 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 and vintners who
voted in the referendum voted in favor of suspension, the producers
so voting marketed the majority of the total quantity of winegrapes
marketed in the preceding marketing season by all of the producers
who participated in the referendum, and the vintners so voting
acquired the majority of the total quantity of winegrapes acquired in
the preceding marketing season by all of the vintners who
participated in the referendum.
(2) A majority of the producers and vintners who voted in the
referendum voted in favor of suspension, 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, and the vintners so voting acquired 65
percent or more of the total quantity of winegrapes acquired in the
preceding marketing season by all of the vintners who voted in the
referendum.