The secretary shall administer and enforce the provisions of this act. In order to effectuate the purposes of this act the secretary is authorized to issue, administer and enforce the provisions of marketing programs promulgated hereunder regulating producer marketing or handling of agricultural commodities upon approval of persons directly affected as provided in section 13. Whenever the secretary has reason to believe that the issuance of a marketing program or major amendments to an existing marketing program will tend to effectuate the purposes of this act with respect to any agricultural commodity, he shall upon application of the producers of any agricultural commodity, or any organization representing 10% of such persons, conduct a public hearing after due notice upon a proposed mar
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The secretary shall administer and enforce the provisions of this act. In order to effectuate the purposes of this act the secretary is authorized to issue, administer and enforce the provisions of marketing programs promulgated hereunder regulating producer marketing or handling of agricultural commodities upon approval of persons directly affected as provided in section 13. Whenever the secretary has reason to believe that the issuance of a marketing program or major amendments to an existing marketing program will tend to effectuate the purposes of this act with respect to any agricultural commodity, he shall upon application of the producers of any agricultural commodity, or any organization representing 10% of such persons, conduct a public hearing after due notice upon a proposed marketing program or major amendments to an existing marketing program. Notice of any hearing called for such purpose shall be given by the secretary by publishing a notice of the hearing for a period of not less than 3 days in a newspaper of general circulation published in the capital of the State and in such other local newspapers as the secretary may prescribe. No such public hearing shall be held prior to 5 days after the last day of such publication. The secretary shall mail a copy of the notice of hearing to any producers or processors of such agricultural commodity whose names and addresses appear upon lists of such persons on file in the department. A copy of the proposed program or amendment shall be provided to any interested person upon request. The notice of hearing shall set forth the date and place of hearing, the agricultural commodity, the geographical area covered by the proposed marketing program or amendment and the subject matter to be covered by the hearing. The hearing shall be public and all testimony shall be received under oath. A full and complete record of all proceedings at the hearing shall be made and maintained on file in the office of the secretary. At the hearing the secretary shall receive all testimony relevant to the subject of the hearing. L.1971, c. 308, s. 4, eff. Sept. 2, 1971.