Section 76341.

(a) The commission shall, not later than March 31 of each year, or as soon thereafter as possible, establish the assessment for the following marketing year.

(b) The assessment for the first marketing year shall be six cents ($0.06) per pound on all wool marketed by producers.

(c) For the second and subsequent marketing years, the assessment shall not exceed eight cents ($0.08) per pound on all wool marketed by producers, as determined by the commission, unless a greater fee is approved by producers pursuant to the procedures specified in Section 76381.

(d) The commission may establish an assessment rate that is different for offsort wool or offsorts than for other wool, provided that the rate does not exceed the maximum assessment authorized in subdivision (c).

(e) The assessment rate for wool, other than offsort wool, shall not be increased by more than one-half of one cent ($0.005) each marketing year.

(f) A fee greater than twelve cents ($0.12) per pound may not be charged unless that fee is approved by the Legislature by statute.

(g) Assessments provided for in this section shall be upon the producer. The handler shall deduct the assessment from amounts paid by him or her to the producer and shall be a trustee of those funds until they are paid to the commission at the time and in the manner prescribed by the commission.

(Amended by Stats. 2001, Ch. 397, Sec. 10. Effective January 1, 2002.)