Upon the finding of nine of the members of the commission that the operation of this chapter has not tended to effectuate its declared purposes, the commission may recommend to the director that the operation of this chapter be suspended. However, the suspension shall not become effective until the expiration of the fiscal year then current. The director shall, upon receipt of the recommendation, or may, after holding a public hearing to review a petition that was filed with him or her requesting the suspension, signed by 20 percent of the handlers as defined in Section 66532, cause a vote among handlers as defined in Section 66532, to determine if the operation and the operations of the commission should be suspended, and shall establish a period, which shall not be less than 30 nor more than 90 days after receipt by the director of the petition. The director may prescribe any additional procedure that may be necessary to conduct the referendum.