The council may develop guidelines for the establishment and operation of a “credit-back” program for receivers and fishermen, which authorizes the reimbursement of a percentage of individual contributions to the council, not to exceed 50 percent, for specified individual expenditures benefiting the fishing industry. Individual expenditures eligible for reimbursement may include, but are not necessarily limited to, promotion, research and development, and advertising. The council shall appoint a review committee from its membership and from the fishing industry to review and approve applications for the credit. Any guidelines that require the assistance of, or impact the operation of, the Department of Fish and Game are subject to Section 78552.
Upon submittal of a statement of completion of a credit-back program, and its acceptance by the review committee, the review committee may direct the council to reimburse a percentage of individual contributions, not to exceed 50 percent, at the end of the fiscal year for which the credit-back application and expenditure were made.