Cattle Industry.

Ala. Code tit. 2, ch. 8, art. 1

in effect

Ala. Code § 2-8-1 Legislative Purpose and Intent.

2-8-1. Legislative Purpose and Intent. It is hereby declared to be in the interest of the public welfare that owners of cattle shall be authorized and encouraged to act jointly and in cooperation with handlers, dealers and purchasers of cattle and with the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries and with the State Board of Agriculture and Industries in promoting and stimulating, by research, education, advertising and other methods, the increased and efficient production, distribution, use and sale of cattle and beef products, and it is the intent and purpose of this article to authorize and provide a method and procedure for a promotional program for the cattle industry and the financing thereof pursuant to powers conferred upon the Legislature by Amendment 201 to the Alabama Constitution of 1901. (Acts 1961, Ex. Sess., No. 280, p. 2320, §1.)

Ala. Code § 2-8-2 Authorized Activities Not Illegal or in Restraint of Trade.

2-8-2. Authorized Activities Not Illegal or in Restraint of Trade. No association, meeting or activity undertaken in pursuance of the provisions of this article and intended to benefit the Alabama cattle industry shall be deemed or considered illegal or in restraint of trade. (Acts 1961, Ex. Sess., No. 280, p. 2320, §2.)

Ala. Code § 2-8-3 Referendum and Assessments Declared to Be in Public Interest.

2-8-3. Referendum and Assessments Declared to Be in Public Interest. It is hereby further declared to be in the public interest and highly advantageous to the economy of the state that cattle owners be permitted by referendum as provided in this article to levy upon themselves an assessment and to provide for the collection thereof for the financing or contributing toward the financing of a program of research, education, advertising and other methods designed to increase or promote the efficient and economical production, distribution and marketing as well as the increased use, consumption and sale of cattle and beef products. (Acts 1961, Ex. Sess., No. 280, p. 2320, §3.)

Ala. Code § 2-8-4 Application of Cattle Owners’ Association for Certification and Approval to Conduct Referendum - Generally.

2-8-4. Application of Cattle Owners’ Association for Certification and Approval to Conduct Referendum - Generally. Any nonprofit association of cattle owners organized for the promotion and betterment of the cattle industry may make application to the State Board of Agriculture and Industries for certification and approval for the purpose of conducting a referendum among cattle owners of the state, upon the question of levying an assessment and collecting, expending and utilizing same for the purpose or purposes authorized under this article and as stated in such referendum. Any nonprofit association approved or certified under this article as an approved or certified association by the State Board of Agriculture and Industries shall be authorized to execute or carry out such a promotional program within the limits prescribed by this article. (Acts 1961, Ex. Sess., No. 280, p. 2320, §4.)

Ala. Code § 2-8-5 Application of Cattle Owners’ Association for Certification and Approval to Conduct Referendum - Action by Board on Application.

2-8-5. Application of Cattle Owners’ Association for Certification and Approval to Conduct Referendum - Action by Board on Application. Upon the filing with the State Board of Agriculture and Industries of an application by any nonprofit association of cattle owners as provided in Section 2-8-4, the said board shall within 30 days thereafter meet and consider the application. If it is shown by the applicant to the satisfaction of the board that the applicant is fairly representative of the cattle owners of this state and the board shall otherwise find and determine that such application is in conformity with the provisions and purposes of this article, the board shall certify such association as the duly delegated and authorized group or organization and shall likewise certify that such organization is duly authorized to conduct among the cattle owners of this state a referendum for the purpose set forth in its application which shall be consistent with the purposes of this article. (Acts 1961, Ex. Sess., No. 280, p. 2320, §5.)

Ala. Code § 2-8-6 Authority of Certified Association to Conduct Referendum on Assessment.

2-8-6. Authority of Certified Association to Conduct Referendum on Assessment. Upon being certified by the State Board of Agriculture and Industries as provided in Section 2-8-5, such association shall thereupon be fully authorized and empowered to hold and conduct on the part of the Alabama cattle owners a referendum wherein they shall be entitled to vote on the question of whether or not they shall levy upon themselves an assessment under and subject to and for the purpose stated in this article. The referendum may be conducted either on a statewide or area basis as may be determined by the certified association. (Acts 1961, Ex. Sess., No. 280, p. 2320, §6.)

Ala. Code § 2-8-7 Notice of Referendum.

2-8-7. Notice of Referendum. When a referendum has been authorized as provided in Section 2-8-6, the certified association shall, not less than 30 days before the date for such referendum, publicly announce the date, hours, polling places and rules for voting in the referendum, the area covered by the referendum, the amount and basis of the assessment proposed to be collected, the means by which such assessment shall be collected and the general purposes for which said amount so collected shall be expended and applied. Such notice shall be published by the certified association through the medium of its trade publication, and written notice thereof shall be given to each county agent in the area covered by the referendum. (Acts 1961, Ex. Sess., No. 280, p. 2320, §7.)

Ala. Code § 2-8-8 Conduct of Referendum; Payment of Expense.

2-8-8. Conduct of Referendum; Payment of Expense. The arrangements for and the management of any referendum conducted under the provisions of this article shall be under the direction of the association certified by the State Board of Agriculture and Industries to conduct the same, and such association shall furnish all necessary ballots and arrange for the necessary poll holders. All expense and costs necessary to conduct such a referendum shall be borne by such association. (Acts 1961, Ex. Sess., No. 280, p. 2320, §8.)

Ala. Code § 2-8-9 Eligibility to Vote in Referendum; Question to Be Voted On.

2-8-9. Eligibility to Vote in Referendum; Question to Be Voted On. Any referendum conducted under the provisions of this article may be held on an area or statewide basis as may be determined by the certified association pursuant to rules and regulations adopted for the holding of such referendum. All owners of cattle in the area covered by the referendum who shall be subject to any assessments levied under the provisions of this article shall be entitled to vote in the referendum. In such referendum, individuals so eligible for participation therein shall vote upon the question of whether there shall be levied an assessment for a period of five years in an amount set forth in the call for such referendum, which amount shall not exceed the limitations prescribed by this article. (Acts 1961, Ex. Sess., No. 280, p. 2320, §8; Acts 1981, No. 81-211, p. 265, §1.)

Ala. Code § 2-8-10 Majority Vote Required for Approval of Assessment; Canvass of Referendum Results.

2-8-10. Majority Vote Required for Approval of Assessment; Canvass of Referendum Results. If in any referendum held under the provisions of this article a majority of the cattle owners of the area in which the referendum is conducted, eligible to participate and voting therein, shall vote in the affirmative and in favor of the levying and collection of the assessment proposed in such referendum, then such 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 thereof. (Acts 1961, Ex. Sess., No. 280, p. 2320, §10; Acts 1984, 2nd Ex. Sess., No. 85-51, p. 74.)

Ala. Code § 2-8-11 Subsequent Referendums.

2-8-11. Subsequent Referendums. In the event any referendum conducted as provided in this article shall fail to receive the required number of affirmative votes from cattle owners eligible for participation and voting therein, then the certified association conducting the said referendum shall be authorized to call another referendum, for the purposes set forth in this article, in the next succeeding year, on the question of an assessment and promotional program for the period authorized by this article; provided, that no such referendum shall be held within a period of 12 months from the date on which the last referendum was held. In the event such referendum is carried or favored by the required number of eligible cattle owners participating therein and assessments in pursuance thereof are levied for the period set forth in the call for such referendum, then the association conducting such referendum shall have full power and authority to call and conduct during or after the last year of such period another referendum in which the cattle owners shall vote upon the question of whether or not such assessments shall be continued or renewed for another period of time as authorized under this article. Any subsequent referendums authorized in this section shall be subject to all of the requirements of an original referendum conducted under the provisions of this article. (Acts 1961, Ex. Sess., No. 280, p. 2320, §11.)

Ala. Code § 2-8-12 Collection of Assessments; Deductions for Expenses.

2-8-12. Collection of Assessments; Deductions for Expenses. In the event the required number of cattle owners approve, by a referendum as provided in this article, the levying of an assessment upon the sale of cattle for a promotional program, the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries shall, within 30 days, notify in writing every person licensed to operate a livestock market under authority of Sections 2-15-60 through 2-15-71, as well as every person who operates a meat packing or slaughter establishment which buys cattle or calves directly from the producer, that on or after the date designated in such notice, which shall be not less than 30 nor more than 60 days after the mailing of such notice by the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries, the amount of the assessment shall be deducted by all such sales markets or purchasers of cattle and calves or by their agents or representatives from the purchase price paid to the seller of such cattle and calves, where such cattle and calves are produced in the area covered by the referendum. On or before the tenth day of each calendar month, all assessments so deducted shall be remitted to the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries, less three percent thereof, which may be retained to compensate the stockyard operator, meat packer or other such establishment for the expense of collecting and remitting such assessment. The books and records of all such purchasers of cattle 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 the amounts remitted as required by this section. The Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries shall be entitled to deduct three percent of all sums remitted to him under this section to defray the expense incident to collection and administration of this article. All amounts so deducted by the commissioner shall be paid into the State Treasury to the credit of the Agricultural Fund; provided, that in the event the collection of such assessments is conducted through the shipping point inspection division of the Department of Agriculture and Industries, the amount so deducted by the commissioner for cost of collection and administration shall be paid into the Shipping Point Inspection Fund of the State Treasury. (Acts 1961, Ex. Sess., No. 280, p. 2320, §12.)

Ala. Code § 2-8-13 Remittances to Treasurer of Association.

2-8-13. Remittances to Treasurer of Association. The Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries shall remit to the treasurer of the certified association all moneys paid to or collected by him on a quarterly basis between the first and fifteenth of January, April, July and October of each year, less a commission of three percent of the total amount so collected, which commission shall be deposited in the Agricultural Fund of the State Treasury. The amount remitted to the treasurer of the certified association shall be used and expended by such association for a promotional program in the manner provided by this article and the rules and regulations of the association. (Acts 1961, Ex. Sess., No. 280, p. 2320, §13.)

Ala. Code § 2-8-15 Refund of Assessment to Cattle Owner.

2-8-15. Refund of Assessment to Cattle Owner. Any owner of cattle against whom any assessment is made and deducted under authority of this article, if dissatisfied with said assessment, shall have the right to demand and receive from the treasurer of the certified association a refund of the amount of the assessment collected from such cattle owner, if such demand for refund is made in writing within 30 days from the date on which such assessment was deducted from the sale price of cattle sold by such cattle owner. Applications for refunds of amounts deducted from the sale price of any cattle sold must give the name and address of the sale market or purchaser who bought the cattle, date of purchase, invoice number, if any, and the number of head purchased from him for which the assessment was deducted. Within 30 days after the first quarterly receipt of funds from the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries, and thereafter within 30 days after receipt of such application, the certified association shall, after such association determines that the assessment was paid as claimed in the application, refund the amount so paid as an assessment. The mailing by the association of a valid check in the amount of such assessment, payable to seller, within 30 days after receipt of the application for refund, shall constitute a compliance with this section. (Acts 1961, Ex. Sess., No. 280, p. 2320, §15.)

Ala. Code § 2-8-16 Bond of Treasurer of Association.

2-8-16. Bond of Treasurer of Association. Before any money is remitted by the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries to the treasurer of an organization or association as authorized under the provisions of this article, the treasurer of said organization shall furnish to the commissioner a bond approved by the commissioner in the amount of not less than the estimated annual total amount of the assessments handled by such officer. The surety on said bond shall be a corporate surety company duly qualified and licensed to do business in Alabama, and said bond shall be conditioned upon the faithful handling, proper accounting and properly authorized expenditure of all funds received and disbursed by the principal named in said bond. (Acts 1961, Ex. Sess., No. 280, p. 2320, §16.)

Ala. Code § 2-8-17 Expenditure of Assessments.

2-8-17. Expenditure of Assessments. The funds derived from any assessments levied upon the sale of cattle as authorized under this article shall be used and expended by the certified association, after such funds are remitted to it by the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries, for the purpose of promoting and stimulating by advertising and other methods the increased use and sale of cattle and beef products. Any funds expended by the certified association not authorized by a promotional program previously approved shall be deemed an unauthorized and illegal expenditure of such funds. All funds approved for expenditure by any certified association for an approved promotional program for the cattle industry as authorized under this article are hereby appropriated for disbursement and expenditure by said certified association to carry out any such approved promotional program or programs. It shall not be necessary for the Legislature to make any specific or general appropriation for such disbursements or expenditures nor shall such disbursements and expenditures be subject to the budget and allotment requirements of Article 4 of Chapter 4 of Title 41 of this Code, and such disbursements and expenditures shall not be restricted or subject to any other requirements for any general or special appropriations. (Acts 1961, Ex. Sess., No. 280, p. 2320, §17.)

Ala. Code § 2-8-18 Joint Programs with Other States.

2-8-18. Joint Programs with Other States. Any certified association may enter into agreements with like associations, commissions or other agencies of other states for the purpose of conducting a similar agricultural commodities promotional program jointly with such associations, commissions or other agencies in other states, and such certified association shall be authorized to contribute a proportionate share of the cost and expense necessary for such a program. (Acts 1961, Ex. Sess., No. 280, p. 2320, §18.)

Ala. Code § 2-8-19 Annual Audit of Association; Examination by Department of Examiners of Public Accounts; Publication of Statement.

2-8-19. Annual Audit of Association; Examination by Department of Examiners of Public Accounts; Publication of Statement. The approved and certified association receiving and disbursing funds as authorized in this article shall, following the close of its fiscal year every two years, cause an audit of its books and accounts for the two-year period to be conducted by a certified public accountant, disclosing receipts, disbursements, expenditures, and other information related thereto, and a copy thereof shall be forwarded to the State Board of Agriculture and Industries for inspection and review. The Department of Examiners of Public Accounts may audit, review, and otherwise investigate the receipts and disbursements of the funds in the same manner that those duties are performed for examination and audits of agencies and departments of the state. An examination or audit required by this section and submitted to the State Board of Agriculture and Industries shall be open to public inspection. Within 90 days following the close of a certified association’s fiscal year, if it has received any funds from assessments levied and collected pursuant to this article, the association shall forward a copy of a financial statement to the state board showing the amount received and collected and the amount spent for each project and item. The statement shall be available for public inspection. (Acts 1961, Ex. Sess., No. 280, p. 2320, §19; Act 2010-257, p. 448, §1.)

Ala. Code § 2-8-20 Rules and Regulations.

2-8-20. Rules and Regulations. The State Board of Agriculture and Industries is hereby authorized and empowered to adopt and promulgate rules and regulations to carry out the evident intent and purpose of this article, which shall include rules and regulations governing the holding of referendums as adopted by the certified association, rules and regulations governing the collection, deposit, handling, withdrawal and disbursement of assessments collected under this article and such other reasonable rules and regulations as may be necessary to effectuate the evident intent and purposes of this article. (Acts 1961, Ex. Sess., No. 280, p. 2320, §20.)

Ala. Code § 2-8-21 Enforcement Duties of Commissioner; Revocation of Certification of Association.

2-8-21. Enforcement Duties of Commissioner; Revocation of Certification of Association. It shall be the duty of the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries, through the facilities of the Department of Agriculture and Industries, to enforce and collect the assessment charges levied upon the sale of agricultural commodities under the provisions of this article and to enforce the rules and regulations of the State Board of Agriculture and Industries relative thereto. The State Board of Agriculture and Industries shall have authority at any time to revoke or cancel any approval or certification of an association in the event it finds that such association is not carrying out its promotional program in accordance with the provisions of this article and rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Before any certification may be revoked, the certified association shall be given notice and an opportunity to be heard by the State Board of Agriculture and Industries upon the question of whether its certification should be revoked. (Acts 1961, Ex. Sess., No. 280, p. 2320, §21.)

Ala. Code § 2-8-22 Penalty for Failure to Deduct and Pay Over Assessment.

2-8-22. Penalty for Failure to Deduct and Pay Over Assessment. Any dealer, handler, processor, sales market or other purchaser of cattle who willfully fails or refuses to deduct and pay to the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries any assessment required to be so deducted and remitted to the commissioner shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined in an amount equal to three times the amount of the assessment he failed or refused to collect and remit as required under this article. The amount of any fine under this section shall be remitted to the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries and shall be forthwith transferred by the commissioner to the account of the certified association entitled thereto. (Acts 1961, Ex. Sess., No. 280, p. 2320, §22.)

Source: Alabama Legislature (alison.legislature.state.al.us)URL: https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/code-of-alabamaFetched: 10/20/2026