Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 114 Part 2.djvu/906

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114 STAT. 1549A-92 PUBLIC LAW 106-387 —APPENDIX (2) ADVANCE REGISTRATION.—^A producer or importer of Hass avocados who chooses to vote in any referendum conducted under this title shall register with the Secretary prior to the voting period, after receiving notice from the Secretary concerning the referendum under paragraph (4). (3) VOTING.—A producer or importer of Hass avocados who chooses to vote in any referendum conducted under this title shall vote in accordance with procedures established by the Secretary. The ballots and other information or reports that reveal or tend to reveal the identity or vote of voters shall be strictly confidential. (4) NOTICE. —The Secretary shall notify all producers and importers at least 30 days prior to the referendum conducted under this title. The notice shall explain the procedure established under this subsection. (d) SUBSEQUENT REFERENDA.—I f an order is approved in a referendum conducted under subsection (a), effective beginning on the date that is 3 years after the date of the approval, the Secretary— (1) at the discretion of the Secretary, may conduct at any time a referendum of producers and importers required to pay assessments under the order, as provided in section 1205(h)(l), subject to the voting requirements of subsections (b) and (c), to ascertain whether eligible producers and importers favor suspension, termination, or continuance of the order; or (2) shall conduct a referendum of eligible producers and importers if requested by the Board or by a representative group comprising 30 percent or more of all producers and importers required to pay assessments under the order, as provided in section 1205(h)(1), subject to the voting requirements of subsections (b) and (c), to ascertain whether producers and importers favor suspension, termination, or continuance of the order. (e) SUSPENSION OR TERMINATION. — I f, as a result of a referendum conducted under subsection (d), the Secretary determines that suspension or termination of the order is favored by a simple majority of all votes cast in the referendum, the Secretary shall— (1) not later than 180 days after the referendum, suspend or terminate, as appropriate, collection of assessments under the order; and (2) suspend or terminate, as appropriate, activities under the order as soon as practicable and in an orderly manner. SEC. 1207. PETITION AND REVIEW. (a) PETITION AND HEARING. — (1) PETITION.—A person subject to an order may file with the Secretary a petition— (A) stating that the order, any provision of the order, or any obligation imposed in connection with the order is not in accordance with law; and (B) requesting a modification of the order or an exemption from the order. (2) HEARING. —The petitioner shall be given the opportunity for a hearing on a petition filed under paragraph (1), in accordance with regulations issued by the Secretary. Any such hearing shall be conducted in accordance with section 1209(b)(2) and