(a) For the purpose of providing funds to defray the necessary expenses incurred by the Secretary and the Advisory Board in formulating, submitting to referendum, issuing, administering and enforcing an agricultural commodity development order, the development order shall provide for assessing and collecting fees in amounts sufficient to defray such expenses. Any increase in the maximum assessment provided for in the development order must be within the limit herein prescribed and must be approved by the majority of voting, participating producers in a referendum held for that purpose after reasonable notice of such proposed increase. (b) The Agricultural Commodity Advisory Boards together with the Secretary shall establish the procedure for the payment of the assessment by the producer and such procedure shall be clearly outlined in the proposed development order. Such procedure must be fair, reasonable and shall be deducted by the first purchaser at the time of sale. The first purchaser shall submit to the Advisory Board through the Secretary's office any fees so deducted once every 30 days. When proof of payment of the fee assessed can be furnished, it shall not be necessary for any subsequent buyer to deduct the fee at time of purchase. (c) The Secretary shall require producers petitioning for a development order to deposit with the Secretary in advance such amount as the Secretary deems necessary to defray the expense of electing the first Board formulating an order, submitting it to referendum and issuing the order. If the order is issued, such persons shall be reimbursed when funds are available from assessments. If the order is not issued the Secretary shall refund only that portion of the deposit remaining after payment of expenses incurred on a pro rata basis. (d) Fees collected pursuant to this chapter shall be deposited in a bank or banks or other depository approved by the Secretary of Finance of the State and shall be disbursed by such officers and employees as may be approved by the Advisory Board for the necessary expenses incurred in the administration of this chapter. Fees collected shall be used exclusively for the purpose collected and not for legislative or political activities.
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