(a) Within 15 days of a request from any handler or producer, the secretary shall establish a list of handlers and producers eligible to vote on implementation of this chapter. The secretary may require handlers and producers to submit the names and mailing addresses of all producers and handlers. The secretary also may require that the information provided include information on the volume of rice handled by each handler, or produced by each producer or, in the alternative, may establish procedures for receiving the information at the time of the referendum vote specified in Section 71101. The request for the information shall be in writing and shall be filed within 10 days following receipt of the request.
(b) Any handler or producer eligible to vote whose name does not appear on the appropriate list may have his or her name placed on the list by filing with the secretary a signed statement, identifying himself or herself as a person eligible to vote. Failure to be on the list does not exempt the person from paying assessments and does not invalidate any industry votes conducted pursuant to this article.
(c) Any handler or producer eligible to vote may contact those on the list regarding the referendum in a form and manner prescribed by the secretary if all expenses associated with those contacts are paid in advance.
(Added by Stats. 1998, Ch. 567, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1999.)