2006 Code of Virginia § 3.1-22.68 - Petition for referendum on question of assessment; action of Board and Commissioner; amount of asse...

3.1-22.68. Petition for referendum on question of assessment; action ofBoard and Commissioner; amount of assessment.

The Board, upon a joint petition requesting a referendum being filed with itby at least three of the following: the Virginia Horse Council, Inc., theVirginia Thoroughbred Association, the Virginia Horse Shows Association, theVirginia Quarter Horse Association, the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, orthe Virginia Agribusiness Council, and upon finding that sufficient interestexists among the members of the equine owners in the Commonwealth to justifya referendum, shall authorize the holding of a referendum as set forth inthis article.

The Commissioner shall thereupon be fully empowered and directed to hold andconduct a referendum, in accordance with the provisions of 3.1-22.59 and3.1-22.60, on the question of whether or not equine owners in theCommonwealth are of the opinion that additional market development,education, publicity, research, and promotion of the equine industry arerequired. If approved in the referendum authorized by this section, anassessment of $3 per ton or $0.075 per 50-pound bag of manufactured equinefeed shall be established. The cost of conducting a referendum under thissection shall be paid from the Virginia Horse Industry Promotion andDevelopment Fund.

(2005, cc. 497, 588.)