If the required majority votes yes, the assessment must be levied and collected. The certified association must announce the referendum results within 10 days.
(a) If, in any referendum, a majority of the commercial shrimp boat owners and commercial fishermen licensed and authorized to do business in the state in the geographic area in which the referendum is conducted, and eligible to participate and voting in the referendum, vote in favor of the levying and collection of the assessment proposed in the referendum, then the assessment shall be levied and collected in the manner provided in this article. Following the referendum and within 10 days thereafter, the certified association shall canvass, tabulate, and publicly declare and announce the results of the referendum. (b) In the event a referendum fails to receive the required number of affirmative votes, then the certified association conducting the referendum may call another referendum in the next succeeding year on the question of an assessment and promotional program for shrimpers and seafood fishermen, either singularly or jointly, for a five-year period except that no referendum may be held within 12 months from the date on which the last referendum was held. (c) In the event a referendum is passed and assessments are levied for the period set forth in the call for the referendum, the association conducting the referendum may call and conduct, during or after the last year of the assessment period, another referendum in which the commercial shrimp boat owners and seafood fishermen licensed and authorized to do business in the state, either singularly or jointly, may vote on the question of whether the assessment shall be continued or renewed for another designated period of time. Any subsequent referendum authorized in this section shall be subject to all of the requirements of an original referendum conducted under this article.