(a) Every five years, commencing with the fifth marketing season following the certification pursuant to Section 71104, the secretary shall conduct a referendum among handlers and producers. The operations of the commission shall continue unless the secretary determines from the referendum that a majority of the eligible handlers and a majority of the eligible producers voting in the referendum voted in favor of terminating the operations of this chapter.
(b) If the secretary finds that the vote favors continuation, he or she shall so certify and this chapter shall remain operative. If the secretary finds that the vote favors termination, he or she shall so certify and declare the operation of this chapter and the commission suspended upon the expiration of the then current marketing season. Thereupon, the operations of the commission shall be concluded and funds distributed as provided in Section 71137.
(Added by Stats. 1998, Ch. 567, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 1999.)