RS 3:4158 Referendum - Louisiana Statutes

§4158.  Referendum

A.  The assessment authorized in R.S. 3:557.9 shall not be levied or collected unless and until the question of its imposition and the exact amount thereof has been submitted to and approved by a majority of eligible dairy producers voting in a referendum to be conducted as provided in this Section.

B.  In establishing the initial assessment, the board shall consider the necessities of providing methods and means, including but not limited to advertising, promotional, and educational programs, public relations programs, and other promotional activities for maintaining and expanding existing markets and developing new markets, both domestic and foreign, for Louisiana milk and other Louisiana dairy products, and procedures for protecting the interests of Louisiana consumers by assuring an adequate supply of pure and wholesome Louisiana milk and other Louisiana dairy products.

C.  When the board determines that a referendum shall be conducted among producers, and establishes a date for the referendum, the commissioner shall give notice of the referendum to the executive boards of each organization authorized to make nominations for appointments to the board at least thirty days prior to the date established by the board for the referendum.  The commissioner shall prepare for the approval of the board an official list of all dairy producers eligible to vote in the referendum.

D.  No dairy producer shall be entitled to vote in a referendum unless he has been actively engaged in the production of milk during the month immediately preceding the referendum.  No producer shall be entitled to more than one vote in a referendum.

E.  The commissioner shall prepare for the approval of the board a ballot which shall permit the producer to cast his vote for or against the imposition of the assessment established by the board.  The commissioner shall also prepare a voting packet and instructions for voting for each producer who is eligible to vote in the referendum.  Such paraphernalia shall include a means for assuring the eligibility of each dairy producer voting in the referendum and shall be prepared in such form as may be necessary to assure the secrecy of each dairy producer's vote.  The commissioner shall mail one ballot, a voting packet, and instructions for voting to each dairy producer eligible to vote in the referendum at least fifteen days prior to the date set by the board for the referendum.  Each producer voting in the referendum shall return his ballot to the commissioner, properly sealed in the envelope contained in the voting packet.  The envelope containing the ballot shall be postmarked no later than the date set for the referendum and shall be received by the commissioner no later than the date set for the tabulation of votes cast in the referendum.  If any ballot is received by the commissioner after the tabulation of votes cast in the referendum, the ballot shall not be opened or counted but shall be preserved, sealed and intact, in the records of the referendum.

F.  All ballots shall remain sealed until the first meeting of the board following the date of the referendum.  The board shall meet as soon as possible, but no later than seven days after the date of the referendum, for the purpose of tabulating the votes cast in the referendum.  All ballots shall be opened and tabulated by the board in open session and the results of the tabulation shall be immediately promulgated.  The commissioner shall notify the executive boards of each organization authorized to make nominations for appointments to the board of the results of the referendum.  Any producer or representative of any organization authorized to make nominations for appointment to the board may attend the meeting and observe the tabulation of the votes cast in any referendum.

G.  If the assessment is approved by a majority of the eligible dairy producers voting in the referendum, the assessment shall become effective on the tenth day following the date of the referendum.

H.  Whenever an assessment is not approved by a majority of the dairy producers voting in the referendum, the matter shall not be submitted to a second vote of dairy producers for a period of at least one year following the referendum at which the issue was defeated.

I.  The board shall not modify an assessment approved by a majority of dairy producers voting in any referendum for a period of at least one year following the referendum.  At the expiration of one year after a referendum, the board may propose the modification of an assessment.  No modification shall be effective unless it is approved in a referendum conducted in accordance with the provisions of this Section.

J.  The initial assessment established by the board and approved by dairy producers shall be effective for a period of three years.  After the expiration of the initial three-year period, the assessment may be extended for an indefinite period of time in increments of five years each by ratification and approval of a majority of the dairy producers eligible to vote and voting in a referendum conducted in accordance with the provisions of this Section.

K.  No producer shall be entitled to a refund of any assessment approved in a referendum held in accordance with the provisions of this Section.

Added by Acts 1983, No. 526, §1, eff. July 8, 1983; Acts 1995, No. 356, §1; Acts 2009, No. 24, §8L, eff. June 12, 2009.