184A.12A - REFERENDUM CONDUCTED TO ABOLISH THE COUNCIL AND TERMINATE THE IMPOSITION OF THE ASSESSMENT. - Iowa Statutes

184A.12A REFERENDUM CONDUCTED TO ABOLISH THE COUNCIL AND TERMINATE THE IMPOSITION OF THE ASSESSMENT. 1. A referendum may be called to abolish the council established pursuant to sections 184A.1A and 184A.1B, and to terminate the imposition of the assessment established pursuant to section 184A.2. The department shall call and conduct the referendum upon the department's receipt of a petition requesting the referendum. The petition must be signed by at least twenty eligible voters or fifty percent of all eligible voters, whichever is greater. In order to be an eligible voter under this section, a producer must be a qualified producer who paid an assessment in the year in which the referendum is held. The referendum shall be conducted by election within sixty days following receipt of the petition. The petitioners shall guarantee payment of the cost of the referendum by providing evidence of financial security as required by the department. 2. The following procedures shall apply to a referendum conducted pursuant to this section: a. The department shall publish a notice of the referendum for a period of not less than five days in at least one newspaper of general circulation in the state and for a similar period in other newspapers as prescribed by the department. The notice shall state the voting places, period of time for voting, manner of voting, and other information deemed necessary by the department. A referendum shall not be commenced until five days after the last date of publication. b. Upon signing a statement certifying to the department that a producer is an eligible voter, the producer is entitled to one vote in each referendum conducted pursuant to this section. The department may conduct the referendum by mail, electronic means, or a general meeting of eligible voters. The department shall conduct the referendum and count and tabulate the ballots filed during the referendum within thirty days following the close of the referendum. (1) If a majority of eligible voters who vote in the referendum approves the continuation of the council and the imposition of the assessment, the council and the imposition of the assessment shall continue as provided in this chapter. (2) If a majority of eligible voters who vote in the referendum does not approve continuing the council and the imposition of the assessment, the department shall terminate the collection of the assessment on the first day of the year for which the referendum was to continue. The department shall terminate the activities of the council in an orderly manner as soon as practicable after the referendum. A subsequent referendum may be held as provided in section 184A.1A. However, the subsequent referendum shall not be held within one hundred eighty days from the date of the last referendum.          Section History: Recent Form 99 Acts, ch 158, §11, 18, 19