505 ILCS 145/70

(505 ILCS 145/70)

Sec. 70. Assessments. A properly qualified wheat development program shall provide for assessments against producers of the affected commodity to defray the costs of the activities provided for in the wheat development program. Assessments authorized in a wheat development program shall be based on the quantity of commodity marketed and shall be equitably assessed against all affected producers.

The total assessment levied on the commodity of any affected producer may be up to 1.5 cents per bushel of wheat produced and sold by that producer as established by the temporary program committee. After the first 5 years a program is in operation, the wheat development board may request the Director to hold a referendum to increase the assessment rate.

A referendum to increase the assessment rate shall be considered approved if a majority of those producers voting in the referendum vote in favor of the increase. The wheat development board shall increase the rate as set in the referendum.

The wheat development board shall require the first purchaser of wheat to withhold and remit the assessments to the wheat development board. A first purchaser remitting the assessments for any producer shall deduct the proper amount of assessment from any amount that he owes to the producer. The wheat development board shall have the power to cause any duly authorized agent or representative to enter upon the premises of any purchaser of wheat and examine or cause to be examined only books, papers, and records that deal in any way with respect to the payment of the assessment or enforcement of this Act.

(Source: P.A. 98-343, eff. 8-13-13.)