A marketing order or major amendment to it, which directly affects handlers, that is issued pursuant to this chapter, shall not become effective unless and until the director finds one of the following has occurred:

(a) It has been assented to in writing by not less than 65 percent of the handlers that are engaged, within the area specified in the marketing order or amendment to it, in the handling of the commodity which is regulated by the marketing order.

(b) It has been assented to in writing by handlers that handle not less than 65 percent of the volume of the commodity which is regulated by the marketing order.

(c) It has been approved by handlers in a referendum among handlers that are directly affected. The director may make the finding pursuant to this subdivision if the valid votes cast in the referendum represent not less than 40 percent of the total number of handlers of the commodity of record with the department, and if the handlers that cast ballots in the referendum in favor of the marketing order or amendment to it represent not less than 65 percent of the total number of handlers that cast ballots in the referendum and handled not less than 51 percent of the total quantity of the commodity which was marketed in the next preceding marketing season, or the current marketing season if the harvest and delivery of the commodity to handlers is complete, by all of the handlers that cast ballots in the referendum, or if the handlers that cast ballots in the referendum in favor of the marketing order or amendment represent not less than 51 percent of the total number of handlers that cast ballots in the referendum and handled not less than 65 percent of the total quantity of the commodity which was handled in the next preceding marketing season, or the current marketing season if the harvest and delivery of the commodity to handlers is complete, by all of the handlers who cast ballots in the referendum. The quantity of the commodity handled by the handler may be stated on the referendum ballot returned by each handler or may be obtained by requiring handlers to report that volume pursuant to Section 58775.

(Repealed and added by Stats. 1986, Ch. 677, Sec. 6.)