Terms Used In Tennessee Code 44-19-118

  • Commissioner: means the commissioner of agriculture. See Tennessee Code 44-19-103
  • Referendum: means any voting procedure under which affected producers may, by secret ballot, vote for or against an assessment authorized by this chapter. See Tennessee Code 44-19-103
  • signed: includes a mark, the name being written near the mark and witnessed, or any other symbol or methodology executed or adopted by a party with intention to authenticate a writing or record, regardless of being witnessed. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Vote: means to cast a ballot in a referendum. See Tennessee Code 44-19-103
  • written: includes printing, typewriting, engraving, lithography, and any other mode of representing words and letters. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105

Upon written petition duly signed by fifteen percent (15%) of the producers affected by the assessment, the commissioner shall, in accordance with the procedure established in §§ 44-19-109 – 44-19-112, conduct a referendum to determine whether the producers assent to a change of the assessment or to terminate the assessment. The producers shall be deemed to have assented to a change of the assessment or termination of assessment if a majority of those voting vote in favor of the change or termination.