(a) Within 30 days after the effective date of this chapter, the secretary shall issue a public notice that the department is preparing a list of beekeepers who are eligible to vote on the implementation of this chapter. The notice shall indicate that beekeepers eligible to vote in the implementation referendum must register with the department. The notice shall be placed in appropriate publications and shall include instructions on how to register.

(b) Within 180 days after the effective date of this chapter, the secretary shall establish a list of local and out-of-state producers, who are eligible to vote on the implementation of this chapter.

(c) The secretary shall require in the registration process that producers submit the names, mailing addresses, and number of colonies operated during the preceding marketing season and identify their district based on primary residence.

(d) Any producer whose name does not appear on the secretary’s 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 and providing the required registration information specified in this section. Failure to be on the list does not exempt the producer from paying assessments under this chapter.

(e) Any eligible producer may contact other eligible producers in a form and manner prescribed by the secretary. Subsequent to the implementation of this chapter and the establishment of the commission, the commission shall prescribe the form and manner by which eligible producers may contact other producers.

(Added by Stats. 2010, Ch. 585, Sec. 1. (AB 1912) Effective January 1, 2011.)