SECTIONS 64671-64676 - California Statutes

FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL CODE

SECTION 64671-64676

64671. Whenever a petition is presented to the director which has
been signed by 2,000, or more, of the total producers in the state,
not more than six months prior to its presentation to the director,
the director shall conduct a referendum among producers to ascertain
whether they favor the carrying on of a voluntary promotion and
research program for beef as prescribed in Section 64661. At the time
any person starts to circulate such a petition, he shall notify the
director of such action. The director shall establish the period of
time during which such referendum shall be conducted which shall be
not less than 30 days nor more than 90 days.

64672. The director shall count and tabulate the ballots received,
and announce the results at the close of the referendum period. If
the director finds from the ballots cast that 40 percent or more of
all producers, as determined from a list to be established by the
director, have voted and that not less than 65 percent of the total
producers that produced not less than 51 percent of the volume of the
commodity in the state or not less than 51 percent of the total
producers that produced not less than 65 percent of the volume of the
commodity in the state voting in such referendum favor carrying on a
voluntary promotion and research program, the director shall declare
the program a voluntary promotion and research program.

64673. If the promotion and research program is declared to be
voluntary, Section 64695 shall become operative and funds for the
administration and enforcement of this chapter shall be provided by
voluntary contributions rather than mandatory fees.

64674. If the director finds that the referendum did not receive
the required votes in favor of a voluntary promotion and research
program pursuant to Section 64672, he shall declare this result and
shall instruct the council to carry on the current program.

64675. If the voluntary promotion and research program does not
receive the required favorable vote or if less than the required
number of producers have voted, another referendum shall not be
petitioned for until after the expiration of a period of two years
from the date of the referendum which failed.

64676. No referendum shall be conducted pursuant to this article
until after the expiration of a period of two years from the
effective date of this article.