§6413 Requirement of Initial Referendum

Summary

The Secretary must hold a vote of fluid milk processors during the 60-day period right before an order’s effective date to decide if the order should take effect. For the order to pass, at least 50 percent of the processors who vote must approve it, and the processors who voted and marketed milk during the Secretary’s chosen representative period must account for 60 percent or more of the volume sold by voting processors. The Department’s costs for the vote can be paid from Board assessments. The Secretary sets the voting rules. Processors must register before voting after they get notice. Votes must follow the Secretary’s procedures, ballots are kept strictly confidential, and all processors must get notice at least 30 days before the vote explaining the process.