(a) Upon the request of the commissioner and within ten days after the close of each month's business, each person, firm or corporation which bottles, manufactures, processes, sells or distributes milk or cream within the state shall make and forward to the commissioner a sworn statement, on forms prescribed by the commissioner, in regard to the quantity of milk or cream received, sold, distributed or manufactured by such person, stating where such milk or cream was produced and specifying the number of quarts of milk sold or disposed of in fluid form, the quantity of milk which has been used to produce cream sold in fluid form and the quantity of milk which has been used to produce manufactured products. Each such statement shall provide such other information pertaining to the receipts, sale, use or disposition of milk, cream and milk products as the commissioner requires. The commissioner shall, upon request of the producer or producers directly affected thereby, transmit information pertaining to the receipts of milk from various sources by a particular dealer and the uses made of it by such dealer.

(b) If the Federal Milk Order applicable to Connecticut is terminated, the commissioner or his designated agent shall have power to examine, copy and audit, from time to time, as he deems necessary and proper, the books, papers, records and accounts of all dealers with plants approved for the sale of milk in Connecticut and others for the purpose of effectuating the policy and provisions of this chapter or any order, ruling, regulation or direction promulgated hereunder. The commissioner or his designated agent shall have access to and may enter and inspect at all reasonable hours all places, equipment and vehicles where milk and milk products are being received, purchased, stored, bottled, manufactured, sold or handled and where books, papers, records or accounts relating thereto are kept.

(c) The commissioner may levy an assessment on all milk producers, at a rate to be determined by the commissioner, after public hearing, which shall not exceed one cent for each hundredweight of milk produced. Assessment funds received from milk producers shall be paid by the commissioner to the State Treasurer to the account of the General Fund, and all moneys so paid are appropriated to the commissioner for the administration of this section.

(1949 Rev., S. 3228; 1951, 1955, S. 1761d; 1961, P.A. 200; 1967, P.A. 573, S. 1.)

History: 1961 act deleted provision requiring monthly reports to milk administrator and made commissioner rather than milk administrator responsible for transmitting information upon producers' requests; 1967 act added Subsecs. (b) and (c) re commissioner's access to records, etc. and his power to levy assessments to cover administration costs.