(a) Every handler that operates only one plant within the state, before purchasing any market milk from a producer, shall execute and deliver to the secretary a surety bond, executed by the applicant as principal and by a surety company qualified and authorized to do business in this state as surety. The minimum amount of the bond shall be based upon the average daily quantity of market milk purchased by the handler during any calendar month during a calendar year.

The minimum amount of the bond shall be as follows:

(1) Five thousand dollars ($5,000) for any handler that purchases an average daily quantity of less than 1,000 gallons.

(2) Ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for any handler that purchases an average daily quantity of at least 1,000 gallons but less than 4,000 gallons.

(3) Fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) for any handler that purchases an average daily quantity of at least 4,000 gallons but less than 8,000 gallons.

(4) Twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) for any handler that purchases an average daily quantity of 8,000 gallons or more.

(b) Every handler that operates more than one plant within the state, before purchasing any market milk from a producer, shall execute and deliver to the secretary a surety bond, executed by the applicant as principal and by a surety company qualified and authorized to do business in this state as surety. The bond shall be a single bond covering all plants within the state and shall be in an amount determined by multiplying twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) by the number of plants operated by the handler in the state.

(c) Any milk purchase agreement between a handler and a producer may provide for additional surety bonds, guarantees, or other forms of security in addition to the bonding requirements in this article.

(Amended by Stats. 2004, Ch. 70, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2005.)