Alabama § 2-8-194 - Application for Certification and Approval to Conduct Referendum - Action by Board on Application.

§ 2-8-194. Application for Certification and Approval to Conduct Referendum - Action by Board on Application.

Upon the filing with the State Board of Agriculture and Industries of an application by any commission, formed by mutual agreement of two or more nonprofit associations of cotton producers, the said board shall within 30 days thereafter meet and consider the application. If it is shown by the applicant to the satisfaction of the board that the applicant is fairly and substantially representative of the cotton producers of this state, and the board shall otherwise find and determine that such application and the program proposed therein are in conformity with the provisions and purposes of this article, then, and in such an event, the board shall certify such organization as the duly delegated and authorized commission and shall likewise certify that such commission is duly authorized to conduct among the cotton producers of this state a referendum for the purpose set forth in its application which shall be consistent with the purposes of this article. In the event there is more than one pending application at any time, the board must decide between the pending applications based on the program proposed, the number and geographical distribution of cotton producer members in the applicant commission, the size, stability, potential effectiveness and fiscal soundness of the applicant commission and any organizations with which it is affiliated, the existence and effectiveness of affiliated county organizations in the applicant commission and its affiliates, and the sentiment of cotton producers as ascertained by petitions, hearings, and otherwise as may be determined by the board. No application shall be considered if another commission holds currently valid certification.