Under existing law, an organization certified by the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries to conduct a referendum on levying an assessment to promote a commodity must follow certain requirements for how notice must be given for the referendum. Existing law specifies the amount of time an assessment on the sale of nuts, bulbs, fruits, or vegetables is effective before another referendum is required. Under existing law, the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries may deduct a percentage of the sums remitted to him or her for distribution pursuant to the assessment charged on the sale of nuts, bulbs, fruits, and vegetables. This bill would revise the requirements for how notice must be given for a referendum on an assessment regarding nuts, bulbs, fruits, and vegetables in general and regarding peanuts specifically. This bill would change the length of time an assessment on the sale of nuts, bulbs, fruits, and vegetables is in effect before a referendum is needed. This bill would change the percentage the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries may deduct from the sum of the assessment on the sale of nuts, HB180 HB180 INTRODUCED INTRODUCED bulbs, fruits, and vegetables for administrative costs. Existing law also provides for the length of time between audits of the books and accounts of an organization certified to conduct a referendum regarding an assessment on sheep and goat sales. This bill would change the length of time between audits of the books and accounts of an organization certified to conduct a referendum regarding an assessment on the sale of sheep and goats. This bill would also make nonsubstantive, technical revisions to update the existing code language to current style.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 2-8-126, 2-8-128, 2-8-131, 2-8-133, 2-8-134, 2-8-135, 2-8-323, 2-8-126, 2-8-128, 2-8-131, 2-8-133, 2-8-134, 2-8-135, 2-8-323