§6403 Referenda

Summary

Groups in the propane industry can pay to hold a vote of producers and retail sellers to create a Propane Education and Research Council. An independent audit firm must run the vote. Votes are weighted by how much propane a person produced or sold in the prior year (or another fair period). If people representing two‑thirds of the propane volume in the retail marketer group and two‑thirds in the producer group vote yes, the Council is created. If created, the Council must repay the groups for referendum accounting and paperwork and may charge an assessment on odorized propane under section 6405. Voters must tell the audit firm the propane volume their vote represents. The Council can also order, or must hold if asked by producers and retail sellers representing 35 percent of the volume in each group, a vote to end or pause the Council. The Council pays for that vote and picks the audit firm. Ending or pausing the Council only happens if people representing more than one‑half of the propane volume in both groups approve, or if people representing more than two‑thirds of the volume in either group approve.