Every five years, commencing with the 1999–2000 marketing season, the director shall hold a hearing to determine whether the operation of this chapter should be continued. If the director finds after the hearing that a substantial question exists among the producers, processors, and shippers assessed under this chapter regarding whether the operation of this chapter should be continued, the director shall submit the chapter to a reapproval referendum. If a reapproval referendum is required, the operation of this chapter shall be continued in effect if the director finds that a majority of the eligible producers, processors, and shippers voting in the referendum voted in favor of continuing this chapter. In finding whether the commission is continued pursuant to this article, the vote of any nonprofit agricultural cooperative marketing association that is authorized by its members to so vote shall be considered as being the approval or rejection by the individual members of, or the individual stockholders in, the nonprofit agricultural cooperative marketing association.
If the director finds after conducting a hearing that no substantial question exists or that a favorable vote has been given, the director shall so certify and this chapter shall remain operative. If the director finds that a favorable vote has not been given, he or she shall so certify and declare the operation of this chapter and the commission suspended upon the expiration of the marketing season ending January 31, 2000. Thereupon, the operations of the commission shall be concluded and funds distributed in the manner provided in Section 77499.5. No bond or security shall be required for any such referendum.