924.12 Suspending operation of marketing program. - Ohio Statutes

924.12 Suspending operation of marketing program.

(A) The director of agriculture may temporarily suspend the operation of a marketing program, or any part thereof, for any reason, upon recommendation by the operating committee for the program, for a period of not more than twelve consecutive months.

(B) At least once in each five years of operation, or at any time upon written petition by the lesser of twenty per cent or one thousand of the producers affected by a marketing program, the director shall give public notice by analogy to division (A) of and conduct a hearing under division (C) of section 119.03 of the Revised Code to consider the continuation of the program. The director shall file a copy of the public notice with the director of the legislative service commission for purposes of publishing the public notice in the register of Ohio.

(C) Within thirty days after the close of any hearing to consider the continuation of a marketing program, the director of agriculture shall recommend continuation or termination of the program, and shall give public notice of the recommendation by publication in the register of Ohio. The director also shall provide notice of the recommendation to any person who, in writing, has requested notification and may give whatever other notice the director reasonably considers necessary to ensure that notice is constructively given to all persons who are affected by the program.

(D) When the director recommends termination of a marketing program, the director shall, within forty-five days, conduct a referendum to determine whether the affected producers favor the proposed termination. The affected producers favor the termination of the program if a majority of the producers who vote in the referendum vote in favor of termination of the program.

Effective Date: 07-05-2002