7 U.S.C. § 6209 — Initial referendum

(a) Requirement Not later than 30 months after the date on which the collection of assessments begins under the order under section 6204(d) of this title, the Secretary must conduct a referendum among producers, producer-handlers, and importers who— (1) are not exempt from assessment under section 6204(d)(5) of this title; and (2) produced or imported limes during a representative period as determined by the Secretary. (b) Purpose of referendum The referendum referred to in subsection (a) is for the purpose of determining whether the issuance of the order is approved or favored by not less than a majority of the producers, producer-handlers, and importers voting in the referendum. The order must continue in effect only with such a majority. (c) Confidentiality The ballots and other information or reports that reveal, or tend to reveal, the vote of any person under this section, or section 6210 of this title, must be held strictly confidential and may not be disclosed. (d) Refund of assessments from escrow account (1) In general A portion of the assessments collected from producers, producer-handlers, and importers before announcement of the results of the referendum provided for in this section must be held in an escrow account until the results of the referendum are published by the Secretary. The amount in the escrow account must be equal to the product obtained by multiplying the total amount of assessments collected during such period by 10 percent. (2) Approval of order If the order is approved by a majority of the producers, producer-handlers, and importers voting in the initial referendum under subsection (a), the funds in the escrow account must be released to be used for the purposes of this chapter. (3) Disapproval of order (A) Proration If— (i) the amount in the escrow account required by paragraph (1) is not sufficient to refund the total amount of assessments demanded by producers, producer-handlers, or importers; and (ii) the plan is not approved under the referendum conducted under subsection (a); the Board must prorate the amount of such refunds among all eligible producers, producer-handlers, or importers who demand such refund. (B) Right to refund A producer, producer-handler, or importer must be eligible to receive a refund— (i) if demand is made personally, under regulations and on a form and within a time period prescribed by the Board, but in no event less than 90 days after the date of publication of the results of the referendum; and (ii) on submission of proof satisfactory to the Board that the person paid the assessment for which refund is sought and did not collect the assessment from another person. (C) Surplus funds Any funds not refunded under this paragraph must be released to be used to carry out this chapter.