§ 2-8-357 — Referendum - Levy of Assessment

In the event a referendum levying an assessment is passed, the commissioner, within 30 days, shall notify in writing all businesses where shrimp and seafood are sold to the public at the first point of sale by commercial shrimp boat owners and commercial seafood fishermen licensed and authorized to do business in the state that, on or after the date designated in the notice, which may not be less than 30 nor more than 60 days after the mailing of the notice by the commissioner, the amount of the assessment which shall not exceed two cents ($.02) per pound of shrimp or other seafood as established by joint resolution of the Legislature and shall be deducted from all sales, or shall not exceed five cents ($.05) per gallon of diesel fuel purchased for use in any commercial shrimp boat licensed to do business in this state. On or before the tenth day of each calendar month, all assessments so deducted by sellers shall be remitted to the commissioner, less two percent of the total assessment deducted, which may be retained by the commissioner to compensate him or her for the expense of collecting and remitting the assessments. The books and records shall at all times during regular business hours be open for inspection by the commissioner or his or her duly authorized representatives or agents for the purpose of ascertaining the accuracy of the amounts remitted as required by this section. The commissioner may deduct two percent of all sums remitted to him or her under this section to defray the expenses incident to collection and administration of this article. All amounts deducted by the commissioner shall be paid into the State Treasury to the credit of the Agricultural Fund.

Legislative History

(Act 2004-301, p. 427, §8.)