(a) Following a favorable referendum conducted prior to December 31, 1989, a referendum shall be conducted by the commission every fifth year thereafter between January 1st and December 31st, following procedures provided in this article, unless a referendum is conducted as the result of a petition filed pursuant to Section 75173. In that case, the referendum shall be every fifth year following the industry-petitioned referendum.
(b) A favorable vote under this section shall be found if the secretary determines from the referendum that a majority of the handlers eligible to vote in the referendum voted in favor of continuing the operations of this chapter, or that the handlers so voting handled a majority or more of the volume of eggs or egg products handled in the preceding season by all of the handlers who voted in the referendum.
(c) If the secretary finds that a favorable vote has been given, he or she shall so certify and this chapter shall remain operative. If the secretary finds that a favorable vote has not been given, 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 in the manner provided in Section 75175.
(d) No bond or security is required for a referendum conducted pursuant to this section.
(Amended by Stats. 1997, Ch. 121, Sec. 15. Effective January 1, 1998.)