(a) The petition for a referendum to establish a local commission shall set forth the assessment rate which shall become effective during the first marketing season in which the local commission is operative. Thereafter, prior to the beginning of each marketing season or as soon thereafter as possible, the local commission shall establish an assessment rate for the marketing season. Assessment rates set by local commissions which vote to continue in operation after the certification of the commission shall be independent of, and additional to, any assessment rate established by the commission.
(b) The assessment rate for producers shall not exceed 1 percent of the gross dollar value of winegrapes grown in the producer region and marketed by producers to vintners. If a producer sells winegrapes for a specified sum in a bona fide sale, the gross dollar amount of this sum is the gross dollar value of the winegrapes.
(Added by Stats. 1989, Ch. 854, Sec. 17.)