§1614. Conduct of referendum; subsequent referendum

A. The arrangements for and management of any referendum held under this Part shall be under the direction of the commission. The commission shall bear all expenses incurred in conducting the referendum, to include furnishing the ballots and arranging for the necessary poll holders.

B. In the event any referendum conducted under this Part fails to receive the required number of affirmative votes, the commissioner, at the request of the commission, shall call other referendums or a re-vote of the same referendum.

C. After the passage of any referendum, the affected cotton producers, upon petition by one-third of the cotton producers within a designated eradication zone, shall be allowed, by subsequent referendums, to vote on whether to modify or eliminate the assessments. Passage of the question called in any subsequent referendum requires that a two-thirds majority of those voting approve the question. All the requirements for an initial referendum must be met in subsequent referendums.

D. If any assessment is modified or eliminated for any reason, then all assessments approved, levied, or otherwise collectible under this Part on the last date prior to any such modification or elimination of assessments taking effect shall remain valid and collectible as necessary to pay the financial obligations of the commission, until the financial obligations of the commission incurred in regard to that eradication zone are paid in full.

Acts 1992, No. 58, §1; Acts 1994, 3rd Ex. Sess., No. 124, §1; Acts 2003, No. 138, §1, eff. May 28, 2003.