(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. (b) “Agricultural commodity” means livestock, poultry, field crops, including nursery stock, bulbs, and flowers; and other agricultural products having a domestic or foreign market. (c) “Certified agency” means any association, board, council, or other entity authorized by the Secretary to conduct a referendum under this section among […]
(a) It is declared to be in the interest of the public welfare that the Maryland farmers who are producers of livestock, poultry, field crops, including nursery stock, bulbs, and flowers; and other agricultural products having a domestic or foreign market, shall be permitted and encouraged to act jointly and in cooperation with growers, handlers, dealers, […]
No association, meeting, or activity undertaken in pursuance of the provisions of this article and intended to benefit all of the producers, handlers, and processors of a particular agricultural commodity shall be deemed illegal or in restraint of trade.
(a) Any association, council, board, or other agency fairly representative of persons qualifying as voters may apply to the Secretary for certification and approval to conduct a referendum among the persons qualifying as voters on the question of levying an assessment, and collecting and utilizing the proceeds for the purposes stated in the referendum. (b) Upon the […]
(a) The certified agency shall arrange and manage any referendum conducted under the provisions of this article and shall bear all expenses in connection with the referendum. (b) Before calling and announcing a referendum, the certified agency shall determine and publicly announce through the public press at least 60 days before the date determined for the referendum: […]
(a) Any referendum may be held either on an area or statewide basis, as determined by the certified agency before the referendum is called. (b) Any persons qualifying as a voter may participate in the referendum. (c) The voters shall vote upon the question of whether an annual assessment shall be levied for a period of five years […]
The certified agency shall prepare and distribute in advance of the referendum all necessary ballots and, under rules and regulations adopted by the certified agency, arrange for the necessary poll holders for conducting the referendum. Within ten days after the referendum, the certified agency shall canvass and publicly declare the result of the referendum.
(a) (1) A proposed assessment on an agricultural commodity passes if a majority of those persons qualifying as voters and voting in the area in which the referendum is conducted vote in favor of the levying and collection of the proposed assessment on the agricultural commodity. (2) If a proposed assessment passes, the agency conducting the referendum shall […]
(a) If an assessment has passed and the assessments have been levied annually for the period set forth in the call for the referendum, then the agency that conducted the referendum may call and conduct another referendum during the last year of the assessment period, on the question of an annual assessment for the next 5 […]
The collected assessments shall be paid into the certified agency treasury to be used together with any other funds from other sources, including donations from any person and grants from the State or governmental agencies, to promote and stimulate, by advertising and other methods, the increased domestic and foreign use and sale of the agricultural […]
(a) As an alternate method for the collection of assessments under § 10–110 of this subtitle, and upon the request of a certified agency, the Secretary shall notify, by registered letter, any person engaged in the business of purchasing any agricultural commodity in the State that the assessments shall be deducted by the purchaser, or the […]
As an alternate method for the collection of assessments provided for in § 10–110 of this subtitle, the certified agency representing the producers of peaches, apples, or other tree fruits may establish the names and addresses of the persons qualifying as voters, and number of trees or acres of trees and certify them to the […]
(a) As an alternative method for the collection of assessments provided for in § 10–110 of this subtitle, upon the request of the certified agency, the Secretary shall notify, by registered letter, all livestock dealers, operators of any livestock auction markets, slaughterhouses, packinghouses, and any other person engaged in the buying, selling, or handling of livestock […]
(a) If the referendum is supported and the assessment is levied and collected as provided, any person upon whom an annual assessment was levied and collected, if dissatisfied with the assessment may demand and receive from the treasurer of the certified agency a refund of the collected annual assessment. (b) The demand for refund shall be made […]
(a) Within 30 days after the end of any year in which an assessment was levied and collected, the treasurer of the certified agency conducting the referendum shall publish in the public press a statement of the amount received and collected by him during that year under this subtitle. (b) Before collecting and receiving the assessments, the […]
The assessing body and the Secretary each may deduct not more than 3 percent of the funds collected by the certified agency to defray the expenses of making assessments under this subtitle.
