(A) Not later than ninety days after the propane council has approved a marketing program proposed under section 936.04 of the Revised Code, or an amendment to such a program, the council shall determine by a referendum whether the eligible retailers, as determined under section 936.03 of the Revised Code, favor the proposed program or amendment. The council shall cause a ballot request form to be published not less than thirty days before the beginning of the election period established under division (B) of this section in at least two appropriate periodicals designated by the council and shall make the form available for reproduction to any qualified statewide propane association.

(B) In a referendum held under this section, each eligible retailer is entitled to one vote. The council shall establish a three-day period during which eligible retailers may vote either in person during normal business hours at polling places designated by the council or by mailing a ballot to such a polling place. The council shall send a mail-in ballot by first-class mail to any eligible retailer who requests one by sending in the ballot request form provided for in division (A) of this section or by any additional method that the council may provide. A ballot that is returned by mail is not valid if it is postmarked later than the third day of the election period established by the council.

(C) A marketing program or an amendment to a marketing program is favored by retailers if a majority of the retailers who vote in the referendum vote in favor of the program or amendment.

Added by 133rd General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 166, §101.01, eff. 10/17/2019.