(a) Within 15 days of the effective date of this chapter, the secretary shall establish a list of producers and handlers eligible to vote on implementation of this chapter. In establishing the list, the secretary may require that producers and handlers submit the names and mailing addresses of all producers and handlers. The secretary also may require that the information provided include the quantity of tomatoes produced by each producer and the quantity of tomatoes handled by each handler, or, in the alternative, may establish procedures for receiving the information at the time of the referendum vote specified in Section 78691. The request for the information shall be in writing and shall be filed within 10 days following receipt of the request.
(b) Any producer whose name does not appear on the appropriate list may have his or her name placed on the list by filing with the secretary a signed statement, identifying himself or herself as a producer or handler. Failure to be on the list does not exempt the person from paying assessments, and does not invalidate any industry votes conducted pursuant to this article.
(c) Proponents and opponents of the commission may contact producers on the lists in a form and manner prescribed by the secretary if all expenses associated with those contacts are paid in advance.
(Amended by Stats. 2004, Ch. 183, Sec. 130. Effective January 1, 2005.)