Section 2-8-133 Collection of assessment; disposition.
Section 2-8-133
Collection of assessment; disposition.
In the event a majority of the producers eligible for participation in a referendum conducted under the provisions of this article and voting therein, shall vote in favor of the assessment, then the assessment shall be collected annually for three years, as set forth in the call for the referendum, and the collection of the assessment shall be under such method, rules, and regulations as may be determined by the organization conducting the referendum. The assessment collected shall be paid into the treasury of the organization conducting the referendum, to be used together with other funds from other sources, including donations from individuals, concerns, or corporations and grants from state or governmental agencies, for the purpose of promoting and stimulating, by research, education, advertising, and other methods, the increased use and sale, domestic and foreign, of the agricultural commodity covered by the referendum.
Upon the request of the duly certified organization of producers of any agricultural products referred to in this article, the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries shall notify, by registered or certified mail, all persons, firms, and corporations engaged in the business of purchasing any such agricultural products in this state that on and after the date specified in the letter the assessments shall be deducted by the purchaser or his or her agent or representative from the purchase price of any such agricultural products. The assessment deducted shall, on or before the twentieth day of the month following the deduction, be remitted by the purchaser to the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries, who shall thereupon, by the end of the month, pay the amount of the assessments to the duly certified organization entitled thereto. The books and records of all the purchasers of agricultural products shall at all times during regular business hours be open for inspection by the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries or his or her duly authorized agents. The Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries shall be entitled to deduct five percent of all sums remitted to him or her under this section to defray the expense incident to the administration of this article. All amounts deducted shall be paid into the State Treasury and be credited to the account of the Agricultural Fund.
(Acts 1957, No. 108, p. 142, §14; Act 2002-406, p. 1023, §1.)