(a) Within 30 days following the day on which a petition for certification is received, the commissioner shall hold a public hearing to consider the petition.
(b) If the commissioner determines that, on the basis of testimony presented at the public hearing, the petitioning organization is representative of the producers of the agricultural commodity within the boundaries described in the petition and that the petition conforms to the purposes and provisions of this chapter, the commissioner shall certify that the organization is representative of the producers of the commodity within the described area and is authorized to conduct the assessment referendum and board election.