96.10(6)
(6) Nature of a marketing board. A marketing board elected under an order is not a board under
s. 15.07 and shall be governed exclusively by this chapter.
96.10 History
History: 1981 c. 283 ss.
19,
26; Stats. 1981 s. 96.10.
96.11(1)(1) Each marketing order issued under this chapter shall provide for the levying and collection of assessments in sufficient amounts to defray the expenses incurred by the marketing board for program operations and administration of the order. Each marketing order shall indicate the maximum rate of any such assessment which may be collected and the proportion, if any, payable by each producer or handler directly affected by the marketing order. The marketing board may recommend to the secretary the assessment rate necessary to provide sufficient funds to cover the marketing order budget. The marketing board shall determine when assessments become due and payable and the units upon which the assessment rate applies. All assessments collected are payable to the marketing board.
96.11(2)
(2) If the secretary finds that the marketing order budget or assessment rate exceeds the limitations of, or is contrary to, the declared purposes of this chapter or the marketing order, the secretary may disapprove the budget and any amendments to the budget, or assessment rate.
96.11 History
History: 1981 c. 283 ss.
22,
29,
30; Stats. 1981 s. 96.11.
96.12
96.12
Collection. To ensure the proper collection of assessments, the marketing board may require:
96.12(1)
(1) Any person subject to the assessment to give the board adequate assurance or security for its payment.
96.12(2)
(2) Every affected producer or handler subject to the assessment to deposit with the board in advance an amount not to exceed 25% of the estimated total annual assessment payable by the person. At the close of the marketing year the sum so deposited shall be adjusted to the total of such assessments payable by the person.
96.12(3)
(3) Handlers receiving the affected commodity to collect assessments from affected producers and remit such assessments to the marketing board. Lending agencies for commodity credit corporation loans to producers shall be deemed handlers for the purpose of this subsection. Handlers who are only collecting assessments from producers under this section are not considered affected handlers under the marketing order.
96.12 History
History: 1981 c. 283 s.
31; Stats. 1981 s. 96.12.
96.13(1)(1) Assessments collected by the marketing board under any marketing order or as an advance deposit against the assessment shall be used by the marketing board only for the purpose of carrying out the purposes and provisions of the order, including the administrative costs.
96.13(2)
(2) A marketing order may contain a provision granting producers who have paid an assessment under the order, and who do not favor the program developed under the order, the right to receive a refund of assessments paid upon submission of proof satisfactory to the marketing board that the assessment for which a refund is requested has been paid. Claims for producer refunds must be submitted on forms prescribed by the board and filed with the board within 90 days after the date the assessment became due and payable. All claims shall be audited and paid by the board within 60 days after receipt of the claim, or within such other reasonable period of time as may be necessary to determine the validity of the claim.
96.13(3)
(3) Upon termination of any marketing order, any and all moneys remaining with the marketing board and not required to defray expenses or repay obligations incurred shall be returned to the affected producers or handlers in proportion to the assessments paid by each in the 2-year period preceding the date of the termination order. If the marketing board and the secretary find that the returnable amounts are so small that the computation and return of the remaining funds is impractical, the board may use the remaining funds to further any of the basic purposes or objectives of the terminated marketing order.
96.13 History
History: 1981 c. 283 ss.
25,
33; Stats. 1981 s. 96.13.
96.14
96.14
Reports and accounting procedures. 96.14(1)
(1) The secretary or a marketing board may require handlers and producers of agricultural commodities to file such information and reports as may be reasonably necessary to assist in carrying out the functions under this chapter.
96.14(2)
(2) All assessments, appropriations and administrative costs for any marketing order or agreement created under this chapter shall be recorded, prepared and audited in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
96.14 History
History: 1981 c. 283 ss.
20,
21,
27; Stats. 1981 s. 96.14.
96.15
96.15
Rules. The secretary may, in consultation with the appropriate marketing board or council, issue such rules as necessary to facilitate the administration and enforcement of this chapter.
96.15 History
History: 1981 c. 283 s.
23; Stats. 1981 s. 96.15.
96.16
96.16
Application of funds. A marketing board may invest all assessments, gifts or grants that are collected or received by the board under a marketing order after consulting with the secretary. The board may not use funds received, collected or accrued under a marketing order for any purpose other than program operations and administration of the order. No such funds may be used for any other marketing order or to influence either state or federal legislation or rule making except rule making directly related to the order.
96.16 History
History: 1981 c. 283 s.
32;
1987 a. 252.
96.17
96.17
Nonpayment and enforcement. 96.17(1)
(1) Any due and payable assessment levied under a marketing order and every sum due under either a marketing order or agreement in a specified amount shall constitute a personal debt of every person so assessed or who is otherwise liable and the same sum shall be due and payable to the secretary or the marketing board according to the terms and conditions of the marketing order or agreement. In the event any person fails to pay the full amount of such assessment or such other sum on or before the due date, the secretary may add to such unpaid assessment or sum an amount not exceeding 10% of the amount due to defray the cost of enforcing collection. In the event any person fails to pay any due and payable assessment or sum, the secretary may bring a civil action against such person for collection, together with the above specified 10%.
96.17(2)
(2) A person who violates a marketing order or agreement shall forfeit not less than $100 nor more than $500 for the first offense, and not less than $200 nor more than $1,000 for a subsequent offense. Each day of violation constitutes a separate offense.
96.17(3)
(3) A person who intentionally violates a marketing order or agreement shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned not more than 9 months or both.
96.17(4)
(4) Actions of a marketing board which exceed the articles of incorporation or violate the bylaws adopted by the board constitute violations of the order and the board members are individually subject to the penalties under
subs. (2) and
(3).
96.17(5)
(5) The secretary may apply to a circuit court for an injunction to restrain any person from violating this chapter or a marketing order or agreement under this chapter.
96.17(6)
(6) If a handler is not a resident or is not authorized to do business in this state, the handler may designate an agent upon whom service of process may be made in this state. The agent shall be a resident of this state or a corporation authorized to do business in this state. The designation shall be in writing and filed with the department of financial institutions. If no designation is made and filed or if process cannot be served in this state upon the designated agent, after reasonable effort, process may be served upon the department of financial institutions.
96.17 History
History: 1981 c. 283 ss.
34 to
36; Stats. 1981 s. 96.17;
1995 a. 27.
96.18
96.18
Price fixing. Nothing contained in this chapter shall permit fixing of prices not otherwise permitted by law except as permitted under
s. 96.04.
96.18 History
History: 1973 c. 311;
1981 c. 283 s.
43; Stats. 1981 s. 96.18.
96.19
96.19
Restraint of trade. In any civil or criminal action or proceeding for violation of any rule of statutory or common law against monopolies or combinations in restraint of trade, proof that the act complained of was done in compliance with this chapter or a marketing order or agreement issued under this chapter and in furtherance of the purposes and provisions of this chapter shall be a complete defense to such action or proceeding.
96.19 History
History: 1981 c. 283 s.
42; Stats. 1981 s. 96.19.
96.20
96.20
Public record. 96.20(1)(1) Each referendum shall be conducted by secret ballot, and the ballots and results shall be a matter of public record and open to inspection.
96.20(2)
(2) All assents filed with the department for the approval of a marketing agreement, an amendment or the termination of an agreement are a matter of public record and open to inspection.
96.20(3)
(3) All contracts made by a marketing board are a matter of public record and open to inspection.
96.20(4)
(4) All annual reports on an order's operation issued by a marketing board are a matter of public record and open to inspection.
96.20(5)
(5) All information relating to the businesses of producers and handlers that is obtained under this chapter is not a public record and is not available for inspection.
96.20 History
History: 1981 c. 283 ss.
16,
39.
