Section 2-8-241 Collection of Assessments; Deductions by First Purchaser; Remittance to Commissioner; Inspection of Books and Records; Commissioner to Deduct Percent for Expenses.

In the event the required number of wheat, corn, grain sorghum, and oats producers approve, by a referendum as provided hereunder, the levy of an assessment upon the sale of wheat, corn, grain sorghum, and oats for a promotional program, the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries shall, within 30 days, notify in writing every person engaged in the business of buying wheat, corn, grain sorghum, and oats whether said buyers are located within the State of Alabama or not, that on or after the date designated in such notice, which shall not be less than 30 nor more than 60 days after the mailing of such notice by the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries, that the amount of the assessment levied pursuant to the referendum shall be deducted by all purchasers of wheat, corn, grain sorghum, and oats from the sale price thereof where such wheat, corn, grain sorghum, and oats are purchased within the state. The deductions of amount of assessments as herein required shall be deducted by the first purchaser from the grower of the wheat, corn, grain sorghum, and oats. “First purchaser” means any person that buys wheat, corn, grain sorghum, and oats from the grower in the first instance; or any lienholder or pledgee, public or private, or assignee of said lienholder, secured party or pledgee, who gains title to the wheat, corn, grain sorghum, and oats from the grower as the result of exercising any legal rights by the lienholder, secured party, pledgee or assignee thereof, regardless of when the lien, security interest or pledge was created. First purchaser also includes any person, public or private, who acquires a lien or security interest or receives a pledge of the wheat, corn, grain sorghum, and oats after said wheat, corn, grain sorghum, and oats are harvested. On or before the tenth day of each calendar month all assessments so deducted by the first purchaser shall be remitted to the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries. The books and records of all such purchasers of wheat, corn, grain sorghum, and oats subject to the deductions or assessments as levied hereunder shall at all times during regular business hours be open for inspection by the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries or his duly authorized representatives or agents for the purpose of ascertaining the accuracy of amounts remitted hereunder. The Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries shall be entitled to deduct three percent of all sums remitted to the Department of Agriculture and Industries under this article to defray expenses incident to collection and administration thereof. The amount thus deducted by the commissioner for expenses incident to the administration of this article shall be paid into the State Treasury to the credit of the Agricultural Fund.