184A.1A - REFERENDUM CONDUCTED TO ESTABLISH AN IOWA TURKEY MARKETING COUNCIL AND IMPOSE AN ASSESSMENT.

        184A.1A  REFERENDUM CONDUCTED TO ESTABLISH AN IOWA
      TURKEY MARKETING COUNCIL AND IMPOSE AN ASSESSMENT.
         1.  The department shall call and conduct a referendum upon the
      department's receipt of a petition which is signed by at least twenty
      eligible voters requesting a referendum to determine whether to
      establish an Iowa turkey marketing council as provided in section
      184A.1B and impose an assessment as provided in section 184A.2.  In
      order to be an eligible voter under this section, a petitioner must
      be a qualified producer.  The referendum shall be conducted by
      election within sixty days following receipt of the petition.  The
      petitioners shall guarantee payment of the cost of the referendum by
      providing evidence of financial security as required by the
      department.
         2.  The department shall give notice of the referendum on the
      question whether to establish a council and to impose an assessment
      by publishing the notice for a period of not less than five days in
      at least one newspaper of general circulation in the state, and for a
      similar period in other newspapers as prescribed by the department.
      The notice shall state the voting places, period of time for voting,
      the manner of voting, the amount of the assessment, and other
      information deemed necessary by the department.  A referendum shall
      not be commenced until five days after the last date of publication.

         3. a.  Each eligible voter who signs a statement certifying
      that the eligible voter is a qualified producer shall be an eligible
      voter under this section.  An eligible voter is entitled to cast one
      vote in each referendum conducted under this section.  The department
      may conduct the referendum by mail, electronic means, or a general
      meeting of eligible voters.
         b.  At the close of the referendum, the department shall count
      and tabulate the ballots cast.
         (1)  If a majority of eligible voters who vote in the referendum
      approve establishing the council and imposing an assessment, a
      council shall be established, and an assessment shall be imposed
      commencing not more than sixty days following the referendum as
      determined by the council.  The council and assessment shall continue
      for five years as provided in section 184A.12.
         (2)  If a majority of eligible voters who vote in the referendum
      do not approve establishing the council and imposing the assessment,
      the council shall not be established and an assessment shall not be
      imposed until another referendum is held under this section and a
      majority of the eligible voters voting approve establishing a council
      and imposing the assessment.  If a referendum should fail, another
      referendum shall not be held within one hundred eighty days from the
      date of the last referendum.
         4.  Within thirty days after approval at the referendum to
      establish a council and to impose an assessment, the department shall
      organize the council as provided in section 184A.1B.  
         Section History: Recent Form
         99 Acts, ch 158, §2, 18, 19; 2000 Acts, ch 1058, §22
         Referred to in §184A.1, 184A.2, 184A.12, 184A.12A