(a) If the secretary finds that producers, handlers, and producer-handlers have not assented to the council program pursuant to Section 64321 or, if the council program is resubmitted, Section 64321.5, operation of the provisions of this chapter and of the council shall be suspended beginning on July 1 following the referendum or, in the case of resubmission, referendums.
(b) After the effective date of suspension of the operation of the provisions of this chapter and of the council, the operations of the council shall be wound up, and any real and personal property held in the name of the council shall be liquidated and the proceeds, along with any and all remaining money held by the council, collected by assessment and not required to defray the expenses of winding up and terminating operations of the council, shall be returned upon a pro rata basis to all persons from whom assessments were collected in the immediately preceding three months. However, if the secretary finds that the amounts returnable pursuant to this subdivision are so small as to make impractical the computation and remitting of the pro rata refund to these persons, any moneys remaining after payment of all expenses of winding up and terminating operations shall be withdrawn from the approved depository and paid into the State Treasury as unclaimed trust moneys.
(Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 304, Sec. 117. (AB 590) Effective January 1, 2020.)