(a) A qualified regional dive fishery development association may conduct an election under this section after the commissioner of fish and game approves

(1) the notice to be published by the qualified regional dive fishery development association; the notice must describe the species of fishery resources subject to the dive fishery management assessment and the rate of the dive fishery management assessment to be approved, amended, or terminated at the election;

(2) the ballot to be used in the election; and

(3) the registration and voting procedure for the approval, amendment, or termination of the dive fishery management assessment.

(b) The dive fishery management assessment is levied under AS 43.76.150(b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), or (h), amended under AS 43.76.170, or terminated under AS 43.76.180 in an administrative area on the effective date stated on the ballot if

(1) the levy, amendment, or termination is approved by a majority of the eligible interim-use permit and entry permit holders voting in the election;

(2) at least 25 percent of the eligible interim-use permit and entry permit holders vote in the election; and

(3) the election results are certified by the commissioner of fish and game.

(c) In conducting an election under this section, a qualified regional dive fishery development association shall adopt the following procedures:

(1) the qualified regional dive fishery development association in the administrative area shall hold at least one public meeting not less than 30 days before the date on which ballots must be postmarked to be counted in the election to explain, as appropriate, the reason for approval or amendment of the proposed dive fishery management assessment, the reason for the proposed rate of the dive fishery management assessment, or the reason for termination of the dive fishery management assessment and to explain the registration and voting procedure to be used in the election; the qualified regional dive fishery development association shall provide notice of the meeting by

(A) mailing the notice to each eligible interim-use permit and entry permit holder;

(B) posting the notice in at least three public places in the administrative area; and

(C) publishing the notice in at least one newspaper of general circulation in the administrative area at least once a week for two consecutive weeks before the meeting;

(2) the qualified regional dive fishery development association shall mail two ballots to each eligible interim-use permit and entry permit holder; the first ballot shall be mailed not more than 45 days before the date ballots must be postmarked to be counted in the election; the second ballot shall be mailed not less than 15 days before the date ballots must be postmarked to be counted in the election; the qualified regional dive fishery development association shall adopt procedures to ensure that only one ballot from each eligible interim-use permit and entry permit holder is counted in the election;

(3) the ballot must

(A) indicate the species of fishery resources subject to the dive fishery management assessment;

(B) indicate whether the election relates to a dive fishery management assessment under AS 43.76.150(b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), or (h);

(C) ask the question whether the dive fishery management assessment on the fishery resources addressed on the ballot shall be approved, amended, or terminated, as appropriate;

(D) indicate the boundaries of the administrative area in which the dive fishery management assessment will be levied or terminated;

(E) provide an effective date for the approval, amendment, or termination of the dive fishery management assessment; and

(F) indicate the date on which returned ballots must be postmarked in order to be counted;

(4) the ballots shall be returned by mail and shall be counted by an auditor selected by the qualified regional dive fishery development association and approved by the commissioner of fish and game; the qualified regional dive fishery development association shall pay the costs of counting the ballots.

(d) The commissioner of fish and game shall certify the results of an election under this section if the commissioner determines that the requirements of (a) and (c) of this section have been satisfied.

(e) A qualified regional dive fishery development association may employ or contract with another person to administer an election under this section subject to the supervision of the association.

(f) Except as otherwise provided under AS 43.76.170 and 43.76.180, an election to amend the rate of a dive fishery management assessment or to terminate a dive fishery management assessment shall be conducted under the same procedures established under (a) - (d) of this section for an election to approve a dive fishery management assessment.

(g) In this section, “eligible interim-use permit and entry permit holder” means an individual who, 90 days before the date ballots must be postmarked to be counted in an election under this section, is listed in the records of the Alaska Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission as the legal holder of an interim-use permit for dive gear or an entry permit for dive gear that authorizes the individual to fish commercially in the administrative area for the species of fishery resource for which the dive fishery management assessment is to be approved, amended, or terminated.