(a) The commission shall establish the assessment for the following marketing year not later than January 1 of each year, or as soon thereafter as possible. The commission shall adopt bylaws which establish the date for payment of the assessment.
(b) The assessment shall not exceed one cent ($0.01) per pound of all sales of asparagus by producers in the marketing year.
(c) The handler shall deduct the producer assessment from amounts paid by him or her to the producer and shall be a trustee of these funds until they are paid to the commission at the time and in the manner prescribed by the commission.
(d) A fee greater than the amount specified in subdivision (b) shall not be charged unless approved by the vote specified in Section 78271.
(Added by Stats. 1990, Ch. 1058, Sec. 1. Effective September 19, 1990.)