The production of avocados for processing into avocado oil and marketing of the avocado oil constitutes an important industry of this state that provides substantial and necessary revenues for the state and employment for its citizens.

The establishment of the commission is necessary for the efficient creation and management of the activities authorized in this chapter. The commission is also necessary to enhance the competitiveness of the industry within the state, national, and international marketplace.

The maintenance of the industry in California is necessary to ensure a continuous supply of avocados and the resulting avocado oil and to ensure the needed levels of income are maintained for those engaged in the production of avocados for processing into avocado oil and the marketing of avocado oil.

The production of avocados for processing into avocado oil and the marketing of avocado oil produced in this state is hereby declared to be a public interest. This chapter is enacted in the exercise of the police power of this state for the purpose of protecting the health, peace, safety, and general welfare of the people of this state.

The commission form of administration created by this chapter is uniquely situated to provide those engaged in the activities specified in this chapter the opportunity to avail themselves of the benefits of collective action in the broad fields of avocado oil research, grades and labeling standards, and public education.

No action taken by the commission, or by any individual in accordance with this chapter or with rules and regulations adopted under this chapter, shall be deemed a violation of the Cartwright Act (Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 16700) of Part 2 of Division 7 of the Business and Professions Code), the Unfair Practices Act (Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 17000) of Part 2 of Division 7 of the Business and Professions Code), or any rule of statutory or common law against monopolies or combinations in restraint of trade.

It is hereby declared as a matter of legislative determination that members of the commission are intended to represent and further the interest of the particular industry concerned and that this representation and furtherance is intended to serve the public interest. Accordingly, the Legislature finds that with respect to persons who are elected or appointed to the commission, the particular industry concerned is tantamount to, and constitutes the public generally within the meaning of Section 87103 of the Government Code.

Unless the context otherwise requires, the definitions in this article govern the construction of this chapter.

“Advisory committee” means a committee appointed by the secretary from applications received from persons that produce or cause to be produced avocados that are processed into less than 5,000 gallons of avocado oil during the marketing season.

“Avocado oil” means the oil obtained solely from the fruit of the avocado tree (Persea americana) that is produced in California for commercial purposes.

“Avocados” means fruit of the avocado tree (Persea americana) that are processed into avocado oil.

“Books and records” means books, records, contracts, documents, memoranda, papers, correspondence, or other written data pertaining to matters relating to the activities subject to this chapter.

“Commission” means the Avocado Oil Commission of California.

(a)“Districts” consist of the following:

(1)District 1 consists of the Counties of Butte, Del Norte, Glenn, Humboldt, Lassen, Modoc, Plumas, Shasta, Siskiyou, Tehama, and Trinity.

(2)District 2 consists of the Counties of Amador, Colusa, El Dorado, Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, Sierra, Solano, Sonoma, Sutter, Yolo, and Yuba.

(3)District 3 consists of the Counties of Alameda, Calaveras, Contra Costa, Fresno, Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Los Angeles, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Mono, Monterey, Orange, Riverside, San Benito, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Stanislaus, Tulare, Tuolumne, and Ventura.

(b)The commission board of directors shall periodically determine whether the avocado oil acreage in any of the districts varies by more than 20 percent from the avocado oil acreage in other districts and draw new district lines in the event a variance exists. This action shall be approved by a two-thirds vote of the commission board of directors.

(c)The boundaries of a district may be changed and districts may be added or eliminated by a two-thirds vote of the commission board of directors, which is concurred in by the secretary, if notice is provided to all persons subject to this chapter before the action. The boundaries need not coincide with county lines.

“Ex officio members” are nonvoting members of the commission board of directors.

“Handle” means to engage in the business of a handler.

(a)“Handler” means a person who engages, in this state, in the operation of marketing avocado oil that they have produced, or purchased or acquired from an avocado producer, or that they are marketing on behalf of an avocado producer, whether as owner, agent, employee, broker, or otherwise.

(b)When the handler is a corporation or a limited liability company, all of the directors, officers, managers, and members of the corporation or limited liability company in their capacity as individuals shall be included, and any liability for failure to collect or make payment of assessments to which a corporate handler or a handler that is a limited liability company may be subject pursuant to this chapter shall include identical liability upon each individual director, officer, manager, or member of the corporation or limited liability company.

(c)“Handler” does not include a retailer.

“Market” or “marketing” means to sell avocado oil into commercial channels of trade.

“Marketing season” or “fiscal year” are synonymous terms and mean the period beginning July 1 of any year and extending through June 30 of the following year.

“Producer” means any person that produces or causes to be produced avocados that are processed into avocado oil in the amount of 5,000 gallons or more during the marketing season and that shall, upon request of the commission, provide proof of commodity sale.

(a)There is in the state government the Avocado Oil Commission of California. Except as provided in subdivision (c), the commission board of directors shall be composed of the following:

(1)Six producers, two from each district.

(2)Three handlers, one from each district.

(3)One public member who shall be appointed to the commission board of directors by the secretary from nominees recommended by the commission board of directors.

(4)The chair of the advisory committee.

(b)The secretary and other appropriate persons as determined by the commission board of directors shall be ex officio members.

(c)The commission board of directors may modify the number of producers and handlers who serve on the commission board of directors by a two-thirds vote that is concurred in by the secretary, if proper notice is provided to all persons subject to this chapter before the action.

(d)An advisory committee shall meet periodically to review issues affecting the purposes of this chapter and shall advise the commission board of directors. The advisory committee shall consist of seven members who shall each serve three-year terms. The chair of the advisory committee shall be selected by the members.

(a)The secretary may require the commission to correct or cease any existing activity or function that is determined by the secretary not to be in the public interest or in violation of this chapter.

(b)If the commission refuses or fails to cease those activities or functions or to make corrections as required by the secretary, the secretary may, upon written notice, suspend all or a portion of the activities or functions of the commission until such time as the cessation or correction of activities or functions as required by the secretary has been accomplished by the commission.

(c)Actions of the commission in violation of the secretary’s written notice shall be without legal force or effect. The secretary, to the extent feasible, shall issue the written notice before the commission entering into any contractual relationship affecting the existing or proposed activities or functions that are the subject of the written notice.

(d)Upon service of the written notice, the secretary shall notify the commission in writing of the specific acts that the secretary determines are not in the public interest or are in violation of this chapter, and the secretary’s reasons for requiring a cessation or correction of specific existing or proposed activities or functions, and may make recommendations that will make those activities or functions acceptable to the secretary.

The commission or the secretary may bring an action for judicial relief from the secretary’s written notice, or from noncompliance by the commission with the written notice, in a court of competent jurisdiction, which may issue a temporary restraining order, permanent injunction, or other applicable relief.

The commission shall reimburse the secretary for all expenditures incurred by the secretary in carrying out the secretary’s duties and responsibilities under this chapter. However, a court may, if it finds that the secretary acted arbitrarily or capriciously in restricting the activities or functions of the commission, relieve the commission of the responsibility for payment of the secretary’s legal costs with regard to that action.

(a)Except for the ex officio members of the commission board of directors, each member of the commission board of directors shall have an alternate member elected in the same manner as the member. An alternate member, in the absence of the member for whom they are an alternate, shall serve in place of the member. An alternate member may also serve in place of any other absent member of the same classification, producer or handler, if the member’s alternate is also absent. However, an alternate member may not serve in place of more than one absent member at a meeting. An alternate member serving in place of a member shall have, and be able to exercise, all rights, privileges, and powers of the member when serving. In the event of death, removal, resignation, or the disqualification of a member, the alternate for the member, or another alternate of the same classification if the alternate member for the member is absent, shall act as the member until a qualified successor is elected.

(b)The chair of the advisory committee shall designate a member of the advisory committee to serve as an alternate in place of the chair in the chair’s absence. An alternate advisory committee member serving in the place of the chair shall have, and be able to exercise, all rights, privileges, and powers of the chair when serving.

Any vacancy on the commission board of directors, including, but not limited to, the failure of any person elected or appointed to the commission board of directors as a member or alternate member to continue in their position due to a change in status making them ineligible to serve, or due to death, removal, or resignation, shall be filled by the election of another person, or appointment in the case of a public member, for the unexpired portion of the term, with elected positions to be filled by a majority vote of the commission board of directors. However, the person elected or appointed shall fulfill all the qualifications set forth in this article as required for the office they are to occupy. The qualifications of any person to fill a vacancy shall be certified in writing to the secretary. The secretary shall notify the commission if the secretary determines that the person is not qualified.

A producer member or their alternate on the commission board of directors shall be an individual, partner, or employee of a producer who has a financial interest in producing, or causing to be produced, avocados for processing into avocado oil. The producer member or their alternate shall be in compliance with this section during the entire term of their office.

The public member, or their alternate on the commission board of directors, shall have all the powers, rights, and privileges of any other member on the commission board of directors. The public member shall not have any financial interest in the production or processing of avocados or the marketing of avocado oil but may be an individual who provides services to individuals who do have a financial interest. The public member or their alternate shall be in compliance with this section during the entire term of their office.

(a)Except as provided in paragraphs (1) and (2), the term of office of all members of the commission board of directors and their alternates, except any ex officio member, shall be three years from the date of their election and until their successors are elected.

(1)Of the first producer members, one from each district shall serve two years and one from each district shall serve three years.

(2)Of the first handler members, one shall serve one year, one shall serve two years, and one shall serve three years.

(b)The determination of the term of each member shall be made by lot at the time of election.

(c)An alternate shall serve the same term as the member for whom they serve as an alternate.

The commission may sue and be sued and enter into contracts. Copies of its proceedings, records, and acts, when authenticated, shall be admissible in evidence in all courts of the state, and shall be prima facie evidence of the truth of all statements within the proceedings, records, and acts.

A quorum of the commission board of directors is a majority of the members authorized to vote. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the vote of a majority of these members present at a meeting at which there is a quorum shall constitute an act of the commission.

The secretary or the secretary’s representatives shall be notified and may attend each meeting of the commission board of directors and any meetings of a committee established by the commission. However, the secretary is not entitled to attend an executive session of the commission board of directors called for the purpose of discussing potential or actual litigation against the department.

A member of the commission board of directors or of any committee established by the commission, which may include nonmembers of the commission board of directors, shall not receive a salary. Except for ex officio government members, a member may receive reasonable and necessary traveling expenses and meal allowances, as established by the commission board of directors, for each day spent in actual attendance at, or in traveling to and from, meetings of the commission or committees of the commission, or on special assignment for the commission.

If the secretary is required to concur in a decision of the commission, the secretary shall indicate a response within 15 working days from notification of the decision. The response may be a request that additional information be provided.

All moneys received by any person from assessments levied under the authority of this chapter or otherwise received by the commission shall be deposited in banks designated by the commission board of directors and shall be disbursed by order of the commission board of directors through an agent or agents designated for that purpose. Any authorized agent or agents shall be bonded by a fidelity bond, executed by a surety company authorized to transact business in the state, in favor of the commission, in the amount of not less than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000).

The state shall not be liable for the acts of the commission or its contracts. Payments of all claims arising by reason of the administration of this chapter or acts of the commission shall be limited to the funds collected by the commission. Members and alternate members of the commission board of directors, employees, and agents of the commission shall not be personally liable for the contracts of the commission, and members and alternate members of the commission board of directors, and employees of the commission, shall not be responsible individually in any way to a producer, handler, or any other person for error in judgment, mistakes, or other acts, either of commission or omission, as principal, agent, or employee, except for their own individual acts of dishonesty or crime. Members and alternate members of the commission board of directors shall not be held responsible individually for any act or omission of any other member or alternate member. The liability of the members and alternate members of the commission board of directors shall be several and not joint, and a member or alternate member shall not be liable for the default of any other member or alternate member.

The powers and duties of the commission board of directors include, but are not limited to, all of the following:

(a)Adopt and from time to time alter, rescind, modify, and amend bylaws, rules, and orders, and recommend regulations in accordance with Article 9 (commencing with Section 79995) for carrying out this chapter, including rules for appeals from any bylaw, rule, regulation, order, or recommended regulation. These actions are not subject to Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.

(b)Administer and enforce this chapter and perform all acts and exercise all powers incidental to, or in connection with, or determined reasonably necessary for, proper or advisable effectuation of the purposes of this chapter.

(c)Appoint its own officers from the members of the commission board of directors, including a chairperson, one or more vice chairpersons, and any other officers as it determines necessary. The officers have the powers and duties delegated to them by the commission board of directors.

(d)Employ a person to serve at the pleasure of the commission as president and chief executive officer, and other personnel, including legal counsel, necessary to carry out this chapter. The commission may retain a management firm or staff from any board, commission, or committee of this state to perform the functions prescribed by this subdivision under control of the commission board of directors. If a person subject to this subdivision engages in conduct that the secretary determines to be in violation of this chapter, or is not in the public interest, the secretary shall notify the commission of the conduct and request that corrective, and if appropriate, disciplinary action, be taken by the commission board of directors. If the commission board of directors fails or refuses to correct the situation or to take disciplinary action satisfactory to the secretary, the secretary may suspend or discharge the person subject to this subdivision.

(e)Fix the compensation for all employees.

(f)Appoint committees composed of both members and nonmembers of the commission board of directors to advise in carrying out this chapter.

(g)Establish offices and incur expenses, invest funds, enter into contracts and agreements, and create liabilities and borrow funds in advance of receipt of assessments as determined necessary for the proper administration and enforcement of this chapter and the performance of its duties.

(h)Keep accurate books, records, and accounts of all of its dealings, which is subject to an annual audit by an auditing firm selected by the commission board of directors with the concurrence of the secretary. The audit shall be made a part of an annual report to all producers of avocados and handlers subject to this chapter, and, notwithstanding Sections 9795 and 10231.5 of the Government Code, copies of the audit shall be submitted to the Legislature and the department. In addition, the secretary may, if determined necessary, conduct, or cause to be conducted, a fiscal and compliance audit of the commission.

(i)Present facts to, and negotiate with, state, federal, and foreign agencies on matters that affect the purposes of this chapter.

(j)Make, in the name of the commission, contracts to render service in formulating and conducting plans and programs, and any other contracts or agreements determined to be necessary for the purposes specified in this chapter.

(k)Conduct, and contract with others to conduct, research, including the study, analysis, dissemination, and accumulation of information obtained from research or elsewhere for purposes described in this chapter. In connection with the research, accept contributions of, or to match, private, state, or federal funds that may be available for these purposes, and to employ or make contributions of funds to other persons or state or federal agencies conducting the research.

(l)Collect information and publish and distribute to producers a bulletin or other communication for dissemination of information relating to this chapter.

(m)Establish an assessment rate to defray operating costs.

(n)Establish an annual budget according to accepted accounting practices. The budget shall be concurred in by the secretary before the disbursement of funds, except for disbursements made pursuant to subdivision (e).

(o)Submit to the secretary for concurrence, an annual statement of contemplated activities authorized under this chapter.

(p)Investigate and prosecute civil violations of this chapter and file complaints with appropriate law enforcement agencies or officers for suspected criminal violations of this chapter.

(q)Engage in activities and administer any program authorized in Article 9 (commencing with Section 79995).

(r)Prescribe the form and manner by which proponents and opponents of the commission may contact producers so long as all expenses associated with the contacts are paid in advance.

(s)Engage in communications with the public regarding activities authorized in this section.

(a)Before February 1, 2024, the secretary shall establish a list of producers eligible to vote on the implementation of this chapter. In establishing the list, the secretary shall require that handlers of avocados submit the names and mailing addresses of producers from whom avocados are received, and the volume of avocado oil resulting from each producer’s avocados that was marketed during the preceding marketing season. The request for the information shall be in writing. The information shall be filed within 10 days following receipt of the written request for information.

(b)A producer whose name does not appear on the secretary’s list may have their name placed on the list by filing with the secretary a signed statement identifying themselves as a producer. Failure to be on the list does not exempt the producer from paying assessments under this chapter.

This chapter, except as necessary to conduct an implementation referendum vote, shall not become operative until the secretary finds at least 40 percent of the total number of producers from the list established by the secretary pursuant to this article participate, and that either of the following occurs:

(a)Sixty-five percent of the producers who voted in the referendum voted in favor of this chapter, and the producers so voting produced a majority of the total quantity of avocados processed into avocado oil in the preceding marketing season by all of the producers voting in the referendum.

(b)A majority of the producers who voted in the referendum voted in favor of this chapter, and the producers so voting produced 65 percent or more of the total quantity of avocados processed into avocado oil in the preceding marketing season by all of the producers voting in the referendum.

The secretary shall establish a period in which to conduct the referendum which shall not be less than 10 days or more than 60 days in duration and may prescribe additional procedures necessary to conduct the referendum. If the initial period established is less than 60 days, the secretary may extend the period. However, the total referendum period may not exceed 60 days.

Nonreceipt of a ballot shall not invalidate a referendum.

If the secretary finds that a favorable vote has been given as provided in this article, the secretary shall certify the vote and give notice of the vote to producers whose names and addresses are on file with the secretary.

If the secretary finds that a favorable vote has not been given as provided in this article, the secretary shall certify the vote and declare this chapter inoperative. The secretary may conduct another implementation referendum vote one or more years after the previous vote has been taken.

(a)Upon certification of the commission, the secretary shall contact producers and handlers in a manner determined by the secretary for the purpose of nominating and electing persons to the commission board of directors.

(b)Subsequent to the first election of members of the commission board of directors, or appointment in cases of a public member, producers and handlers shall be selected pursuant to nomination and election procedures established by the commission board of directors with the concurrence of the secretary.

Before the referendum vote conducted by the secretary pursuant to this article, the proponents of the commission shall deposit with the secretary an amount of funds determined necessary by the secretary to defray the expenses of preparing the necessary lists and information and conducting the vote. Any funds not used for this purpose shall be returned to the proponents of the commission who deposited the funds with the secretary. Upon establishment of the commission, the commission board of directors may reimburse the proponents of the commission for any funds deposited with the secretary and for any legal expenses and costs incurred in establishing the commission.

(a)The commission board of directors shall, no later than the beginning of each marketing season, or as soon thereafter as possible, establish the assessment to be paid by producers and collected by handlers for the marketing season. The assessment shall not be more than twenty-five cents ($0.25) per gallon for all avocado oil handled as specified in this chapter and shall not exceed the reasonable costs of achieving the purposes of this chapter.

(b)An assessment greater than the amounts in this section shall not be charged unless it is approved in accordance with the voting requirements provided in Section 79961.

This chapter does not apply to a producer’s avocados processed into avocado oil for their home use.

(a)Handlers of avocado oil shall keep a complete and accurate record of all avocados purchased by them and avocado oil handled by them with the name of the producer or producers whose avocados were purchased or handled.

(b)A producer who handles avocado oil made from their avocados shall keep a complete and accurate record of the avocado oil handled.

(c)The records described in subdivisions (a) and (b) shall contain information required by the commission. The records shall be preserved by the producer or handler for a period of two years and shall be offered and submitted for inspection at any reasonable time upon written demand by the commission or its duly authorized agent.

(a)All proprietary information obtained by the commission or the secretary from any source, including the names and addresses of producers, shall be confidential and shall not be disclosed except if required by court order in a judicial proceeding.

(b)Information on volume shipments and any other related information that is required for reports to governmental agencies, financial reports to the commission on aggregate sales and inventory information, and any other information that gives only totals, but excludes individual information, may be disclosed by the commission.

The first handler of avocado oil being assessed shall deduct the assessment from amounts paid by them to the producer, and shall be a trustee of the funds until they are paid to the commission at the time and in the manner prescribed by the commission board of directors. A producer who handles avocado oil made from their avocados shall pay an assessment directly to the commission at the time and in the manner prescribed by the commission board of directors.

Every handler shall be personally liable for the payment of the assessments collected from producers, and failure to collect the assessment from any producer shall not exempt the handler from liability.

An assessment that is levied as provided in this chapter is a personal debt of the producer assessed.

(a)A person who fails to file a return or pay an assessment within the time required by the commission shall pay to the commission a penalty of 10 percent of the amount of the assessment determined to be past due and, in addition, interest on the unpaid balance at the rate of 1.5 percent per month.

(b)In addition to any other penalty imposed, the commission may require a person who fails to pay an assessment or related charge pursuant to this article to furnish and maintain a surety bond in a form and amount and for a period of time specified by the commission board of directors as assurance that all payments to the commission will be made when due.

A civil penalty not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000) may be levied by the commission upon a person who does any of the following:

(a)Willfully render or furnish a false report, statement, or record required by the commission, or in any way to affect the shipment and marketing of avocado oil in order to avoid payment of assessments on the product’s highest value.

(b)Fail to render or furnish a report, statement, or record required by the commission.

(c)When engaged in the producing of avocados for processing into avocado oil or handling of avocado oil, fail or refuse to furnish to the commission or its duly authorized agents, upon request, information concerning the name and address of the persons from whom they have received avocado oil and the quantity so received.

(d)Secrete, destroy, or alter records required to be kept by this chapter.

For purposes of according individuals aggrieved by its actions or determinations, the commission board of directors shall establish procedures for an informal hearing before the commission or before a committee of the commission established for this purpose. Appeals from the decision of the commission board of directors may be made to the secretary. The determination of the secretary shall be subject to judicial review upon petition filed with the appropriate superior court.

(a)The commission may commence civil actions and use all remedies provided in law or equity for the collection of assessments and civil penalties, and for obtaining injunctive relief or specific performance, relating to this chapter and the rules and regulations adopted under this chapter. A court shall issue to the commission any requested writ of attachment or injunctive relief upon a prima facie showing by verified complaint that a named defendant has violated this chapter or any other rule or regulation of the commission, including, but not limited to, the nonpayment of assessments. No bond shall be required to be posted by the commission as a condition for the issuance of any writ of attachment or injunctive relief.

(b)A writ of attachment shall be issued pursuant to Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 485.010) of Title 6.5 of Part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure, except that the showing specified in Section 485.010 is not required. Injunctive relief shall be issued pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 525) of Title 7 of Part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure, except that the showing of irreparable harm or of inadequate remedy at law specified by Section 526 or 527 is not required.

(c)Upon entry of any final judgment on behalf of the commission against any defendant, the court shall enjoin the defendant from conducting any type of business regarding the production of avocados or handling of avocado oil until there is full compliance with, and satisfaction of, the judgment.

(d)Upon a favorable judgment for the commission, the court may order that the commission be reimbursed for reasonable attorney’s fees and other related costs actually incurred. Venue for these actions is at the domicile or place of business of the defendant or in the county of the principal office of the commission. The commission may be sued only in the county of its principal office.

Any action by the commission for any penalty or other remedy that is prescribed under this chapter shall be commenced within two years from the date of discovery of the alleged violation. Any action against the commission by any person shall be commenced within two years from the date of the alleged violation.

The commission shall not be required to allege or prove that an adequate remedy at law does not exist in any action brought under this chapter.

This chapter shall be liberally construed. If any section, clause, or part of this chapter is for any reason held unconstitutional or invalid as applied to any person or as applied under certain circumstances, that decision shall not affect the remaining portions of this chapter or the application of this chapter to any other persons or under any other circumstance.

The termination of this chapter shall not affect or waive any right, duty, obligation, or liability that has arisen or that may thereafter arise in connection with this chapter, release or extinguish any violation of this chapter, or affect or impair any right or remedies of the commission with respect to any violation.

(a)Five years after implementation of this chapter, the secretary shall hold a public hearing, after providing proper notice to persons subject to this chapter and any other persons or entities who have requested, in writing, notice of the hearing, to determine whether the operation of this chapter should be continued. If the secretary finds after the hearing that a substantial question exists among the producers assessed under this chapter regarding whether the operation of this chapter should be continued, the secretary shall submit the chapter to a reapproval referendum to be conducted among producers to determine whether the operation of this chapter shall be reapproved and continued in effect.

(b)If the secretary finds after conducting a hearing that no substantial question exists or, if a reapproval referendum is required, that a majority of the eligible producers voting in the referendum voted in favor of continuing the operation of this chapter, the secretary shall certify the vote and this chapter shall remain operative. If the secretary finds that a favorable vote has not been given, the secretary shall certify the vote and declare the operation of this chapter suspended upon the expiration of the current marketing season. Thereupon, the operations of the commission shall be concluded and funds distributed in the manner provided in Section 79993. A bond or security shall not be required for the referendum.

Following a hearing, and favorable referendum if required, the process specified in Section 79990 shall be conducted by the secretary every five years thereafter between July 1 and June 30 of the following year, unless a referendum is conducted as the result of a petition pursuant to Section 79992. In that case, the hearing, and referendum if required, shall be conducted every five years following the industry petitioned referendum.

(a)Upon a finding by a two-thirds vote of the commission board of directors that the operation of this chapter has not tended to effectuate its declared purposes, the commission may recommend to the secretary that the commission be suspended. Any suspension shall not become effective until expiration of the current marketing season.

(b)(1)The secretary shall, upon receipt of a recommendation, or may, after a public hearing to review a petition described in paragraph (2) requesting the suspension, cause a referendum to be conducted among the listed producers to determine if the operations of the commission shall be suspended. The secretary shall not hold a referendum as a result of a petition described in paragraph (2) unless the petitioner shows by the weight of evidence that the implementation of this chapter has not effectuated its declared purposes.

(2)A petition filed requesting suspension of the commission shall be signed by at least 15 percent of the producers, by number, who also produce at least 15 percent of the total volume of avocados marketed in the preceding marketing season.

(c)The secretary shall establish a referendum period, which shall not be less than 10 days or more than 60 days in duration. The secretary may prescribe additional procedures necessary to conduct the referendum. At the close of the established referendum period, the secretary shall tabulate the ballots filed during the period. The secretary shall suspend the operation of this chapter, if the secretary finds at least 40 percent of the total number of producers from the list established by the secretary participate, and that either of the following occurs:

(1)Sixty-five percent of the producers that voted in the referendum voted in favor of suspension, and the producers so voting produced a majority of the total quantity of avocados processed into avocado oil in the preceding marketing season by all of the producers voting in the referendum.

(2)A majority of the producers that voted in the referendum voted in favor of suspension, and the producers so voting produced 65 percent or more of the total quantity of avocados processed into avocado oil in the preceding marketing season by all of the producers voting in the referendum.

After the effective date of suspension of this chapter, the operations of the commission shall be concluded and all moneys held by the commission, and moneys collected by assessment and not required to defray the expenses of concluding and terminating operations of the commission, shall be returned upon a pro rata basis to all persons from whom assessments were collected in the immediately preceding marketing season. However, if the commission board of directors finds that the amounts returnable are so small as to make impractical the computation and remitting of the pro rata refund to those persons, any moneys remaining after payment of all expenses of winding up and terminating operations shall be withdrawn from the approved depository and paid into an appropriate state or federal program or used to fund activities related to the subject matter of this chapter.

Upon suspension of the operation of this chapter, the commission shall mail a copy of the notice of suspension to producers affected by the suspension whose names and addresses are on file.

The commission board of directors may recommend to the secretary the adoption and amendment of avocado oil grades and labeling standards, in accordance with the California Marketing Act of 1937 (Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 58601) of Part 2 of Division 21), unless otherwise specified in this article.

The commission board of directors shall serve as the advisory body to the secretary on all matters pertaining to this article.