§6413 Requirement of Initial Referendum

Summary

The Secretary must hold a vote of fluid milk processors during the 60-day period just before an order would start to see if the order should go into effect. The order will take effect if at least 50 percent of the processors who vote approve it, and the processors who sold milk during the representative period account for 60 percent or more of the volume marketed by those who voted. The Secretary decides how the vote is run. Processors who want to vote must register before the voting period after getting the Secretary’s notice. Ballots and information that could reveal how a processor voted are kept confidential. The Secretary must notify all processors at least 30 days before the vote. Any Department costs for the vote must be paid back from assessments collected by the Board.