reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
AL Code § 2-8-353 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 2 - Agriculture.|Chapter 8 - Promotion of Agricultural Industries and Products.|Article 10 - Shrimp and Seafood.|Section 2-8-353 - Assessment.

Section 2-8-353Assessment. It is further declared to be in the public interest and highly advantageous to the economy of the state that shrimpers and seafood fishermen, either singularly or jointly, be permitted by referendum, as provided in this article, to levy upon themselves an assessment and to provide for the collection of the assessment for the financing of a program for 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 shrimp and seafood. (Act 2004-301, p. 427, §4.)
AL Code § 2-8-354 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 2 - Agriculture.|Chapter 8 - Promotion of Agricultural Industries and Products.|Article 10 - Shrimp and Seafood.|Section 2-8-354 - Nonprofit Association.

Section 2-8-354Nonprofit association. (a) Any Alabama nonprofit association of shrimpers and seafood fishermen organized for the promotion and betterment of the shrimp and seafood industry may apply to the board for certification and approval, for the purpose of conducting a referendum among shrimpers and seafood fishermen of the state, on the question of levying an assessment and collecting, expending, and utilizing the assessment for the purpose or purposes authorized under this article and as stated in the referendum. Any nonprofit association who substantially or fairly represents shrimpers and seafood fishermen and who is approved or certified by the board may execute or carry out a promotional program pursuant to this article. (b) Upon any nonprofit association of shrimpers and seafood fishermen filing an application with the board, the board, within 30 days thereafter, shall meet and consider the application. If the board is satisfied that the applicant is fairly representative of the shrimp and seafood fishermen of the state, and the board finds and determines that the application is in conformity with this article, the board shall certify the association as a duly delegated and authorized association and shall certify that the association may conduct among the shrimpers and seafood fishermen, either singularly or jointly, of the state a referendum for the purpose set forth in its application. (Act 2004-301, p. 427, §5.)
AL Code § 2-8-355 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 2 - Agriculture.|Chapter 8 - Promotion of Agricultural Industries and Products.|Article 10 - Shrimp and Seafood.|Section 2-8-355 - Referendum - Generally.

Section 2-8-355Referendum - Generally. (a) Upon certification by the board, an association may hold and conduct on the part of the Alabama shrimpers and seafood fishermen, either singularly or jointly, a referendum on the question of whether to levy upon themselves an assessment. The referendum shall be conducted on a statewide or area basis as determined by the certified association. (b) The certified association, not less than 30 days before the date of any referendum, shall publicly announce the date, hours, polling places, and rules for voting in the referendum, the geographic areas covered by the referendum, the amount and basis of the assessment proposed to be collected, the means by which the assessment shall be collected, and the general purposes for which the amount collected shall be expended and applied. The notice shall be published by the certified association in its trade publication and written notice shall be given to each county agent in the geographic area covered by the referendum. (c) Arrangements for, and the management of, any referendum conducted shall be under the direction of the association certified by the board to conduct the referendum, and the association shall furnish all necessary ballots and arrange for the necessary poll holders. All expenses and costs necessary to conduct a referendum shall be borne by the association. (d) Any referendum conducted shall be held on a statewide or area basis, as determined by the certified association, pursuant to rules and regulations adopted for the holding of a referendum. All commercial shrimp boat owners and commercial seafood fishermen licensed and authorized to do business in the state in the geographic area covered by the referendum, who shall be subject to any assessments levied, shall be entitled to vote in the referendum. In the referendum, individuals eligible to participate shall vote on 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 the referendum. The amount of the assessment levied shall be determined by the certified association. (Act 2004-301, p. 427, §6.)
AL Code § 2-8-356 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 2 - Agriculture.|Chapter 8 - Promotion of Agricultural Industries and Products.|Article 10 - Shrimp and Seafood.|Section 2-8-356 - Referendum - Voting.

Section 2-8-356Referendum - Voting. (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. (Act 2004-301, p. 427, §7.)
AL Code § 2-8-357 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 2 - Agriculture.|Chapter 8 - Promotion of Agricultural Industries and Products.|Article 10 - Shrimp and Seafood.|Section 2-8-357 - Referendum - Levy of Assessment.

Section 2-8-357Referendum - Levy of assessment. In the event a referendum levying an assessment is passed, the commissioner, within 30 days, shall notify in writing all businesses where shrimp and seafood are sold to the public at the first point of sale by commercial shrimp boat owners and commercial seafood fishermen licensed and authorized to do business in the state that, on or after the date designated in the notice, which may not be less than 30 nor more than 60 days after the mailing of the notice by the commissioner, the amount of the assessment which shall not exceed two cents ($.02) per pound of shrimp or other seafood as established by joint resolution of the Legislature and shall be deducted from all sales, or shall not exceed five cents ($.05) per gallon of diesel fuel purchased for use in any commercial shrimp boat licensed to do business in this state. On or before the tenth day of each calendar month, all assessments so deducted by sellers shall be remitted to the commissioner, less two percent of the total assessment deducted, which may be retained by the commissioner to compensate him or her for the expense of collecting and remitting the assessments. The books and records shall at all times during regular business hours be open for inspection by the commissioner or his or her duly authorized representatives or agents for the purpose of ascertaining the accuracy of the amounts remitted as required by this section. The commissioner may deduct two percent of all sums remitted to him or her under this section to defray the expenses incident to collection and administration of this article. All amounts deducted by the commissioner shall be paid into the State Treasury to the credit of the Agricultural Fund. (Act 2004-301, p. 427, §8.)
AL Code § 2-8-358 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 2 - Agriculture.|Chapter 8 - Promotion of Agricultural Industries and Products.|Article 10 - Shrimp and Seafood.|Section 2-8-358 - Assessment Moneys Collected - Generally.

Section 2-8-358Assessment moneys collected - Generally.  The commissioner shall remit to the treasurer of the certified association, on a quarterly basis between the first and fifteenth day of January, April, July, and October of each year, all assessment moneys collected by the commissioner, less an amount not to exceed two percent of the total amount collected, which amount shall be deposited into the Agricultural Fund of the State Treasury. The assessment moneys remitted to the treasurer of the certified association shall be used and expended by the association for a promotional program in the manner provided by this article and the rules and regulations of the association. (Act 2004-301, p. 427, §9.)
AL Code § 2-8-359 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 2 - Agriculture.|Chapter 8 - Promotion of Agricultural Industries and Products.|Article 10 - Shrimp and Seafood.|Section 2-8-359 - Assessment Moneys Collected - Refunds.

Section 2-8-359Assessment moneys collected - Refunds.  Any shrimper or seafood fisherman against whom any assessment is made and collected under authority of this article, if dissatisfied with the assessment, may demand and receive from the treasurer of the certified association a refund of the amount of the assessment collected from the shrimper or seafood fisherman. A demand for refund must be made in writing within 30 days from the date on which the assessment is collected by the commissioner. The application for refunds of amounts collected shall give the name and address of the shrimper or seafood fisherman. Within 30 days after the first quarterly receipt of funds from the commissioner, and thereafter within 30 days after receipt of an application for a refund, the certified association shall, after the 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 the assessment, payable to the shrimper or seafood fisherman, within 30 days after receipt of the application for refund, shall constitute a compliance with this section. (Act 2004-301, p. 427, §10.)
AL Code § 2-8-360 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 2 - Agriculture.|Chapter 8 - Promotion of Agricultural Industries and Products.|Article 10 - Shrimp and Seafood.|Section 2-8-360 - Duty of Treasurer Before Money Remitted.

Section 2-8-360Duty of treasurer before money remitted. Before any money is remitted by the commissioner to the treasurer of the certified association, the treasurer shall furnish to the commissioner a bond approved by the commissioner in an amount not less than the estimated annual total amount of the assessments handled by the treasurer. The surety on the bond shall be a corporate surety company duly qualified and licensed to do business in the state, and the 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 the bond. (Act 2004-301, p. 427, §11.)
AL Code § 2-8-361 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 2 - Agriculture.|Chapter 8 - Promotion of Agricultural Industries and Products.|Article 10 - Shrimp and Seafood.|Section 2-8-361 - Use of Funds.

Section 2-8-361Use of funds. The funds derived from any assessments levied pursuant to this article shall be used and expended by the certified association for the purpose of promoting and stimulating advertising, education, research, production, and sales of shrimp and seafood and the consumption and use of shrimp and seafood products. Any funds expended by the certified association not authorized for a promotional program previously approved shall be deemed an unauthorized and illegal expenditure of the funds. Any funds approved for expenditure by a certified association for an approved promotional program for the shrimp and seafood industry are hereby appropriated for disbursement and expenditure by the certified association to carry out any approved promotional program or programs. It shall not be necessary for the Legislature to make any specific or general appropriation for any disbursements or expenditures be subject to the budget and allotment requirements of Article 4, Chapter 4, Title 41, and disbursements and expenditures may not be restricted or subject to any other requirements for general or special appropriations. (Act 2004-301, p. 427, §12.)
AL Code § 2-8-362 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 2 - Agriculture.|Chapter 8 - Promotion of Agricultural Industries and Products.|Article 10 - Shrimp and Seafood.|Section 2-8-362 - Certified Association - Generally.

Section 2-8-362Certified association - Generally. A certified association may enter into agreements with like associations, commissions, or other agencies of other states for the purpose of conducting a similar shrimp and seafood industry promotional program jointly with the associations, commissions, or other agencies in other states, and the certified association may contribute a proportionate share of the cost and expenses necessary for the program. (Act 2004-301, p. 425, §13.)
AL Code § 2-8-363 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 2 - Agriculture.|Chapter 8 - Promotion of Agricultural Industries and Products.|Article 10 - Shrimp and Seafood.|Section 2-8-363 - Certified Association - Audit.

Section 2-8-363Certified association - Audit. A certified association receiving and disbursing funds, following the close of its fiscal year every two years, shall 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 related information, and a copy of the auditor's report shall be forwarded to the board for inspection and review. The Department of Examiners of Public Accounts may audit, review, and investigate the receipts and disbursements of the funds in the same manner that those duties are performed for the examination and audits of agencies and departments of the state. Any examination or audit required by this section shall be open to public inspection. Within 90 days following the close of a certified association 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. (Act 2004-301, p. 427, §14; Act 2010-257, p. 448, §1.)
AL Code § 2-8-364 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 2 - Agriculture.|Chapter 8 - Promotion of Agricultural Industries and Products.|Article 10 - Shrimp and Seafood.|Section 2-8-364 - Rules and Regulations.

Section 2-8-364Rules and regulations. The board may adopt and promulgate rules and regulations to carry out the intent and purposes of this article, including rules and regulations governing the holding of a referendum by a certified association, the collection, deposit, handling, withdrawal, and disbursement of assessments collected, and any other reasonable rules and regulations as may be necessary to effectuate the intent and purposes of this article. (Act 2004-301, p. 427, §15.)
AL Code § 2-8-365 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 2 - Agriculture.|Chapter 8 - Promotion of Agricultural Industries and Products.|Article 10 - Shrimp and Seafood.|Section 2-8-365 - Enforcement and Collection of Assessments; Revocation of Certification.

Section 2-8-365Enforcement and collection of assessments; revocation of certification. The commissioner, through the department, shall enforce and collect the assessment levied upon shrimpers and seafood fishermen and shall enforce the rules and regulations of the board. The board, at any time, may revoke or cancel the certification of an association if the association is not carrying out its promotional program in accordance with this article and the 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 board upon the question of whether its certification should be revoked. (Act 2004-301, p. 427, §16.)
AL Code § 2-8-366 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 2 - Agriculture.|Chapter 8 - Promotion of Agricultural Industries and Products.|Article 10 - Shrimp and Seafood.|Section 2-8-366 - Violations.

Section 2-8-366Violations. Any individual who sells shrimp or seafood in the state who willfully fails or refuses to deduct and pay to the commissioner any assessment shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined an amount equal to three times the amount of the assessment the individual failed or refused to collect and remit as required under this article. The amount of any fine shall be remitted to the commissioner and shall be transferred by the commissioner to the account of the certified association entitled to the assessment. (Act 2004-301, p. 427, §17.)
AL Code § 2-8-380 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 2 - Agriculture.|Chapter 8 - Promotion of Agricultural Industries and Products.|Article 11 - Alabama Industrial Hemp Research Program.|Section 2-8-380 - Short Title.

Section 2-8-380Short title.  This article shall be known and may be cited as the Alabama Industrial Hemp Research Program Act. (Act 2016-293, §1.)
AL Code § 2-8-381 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 2 - Agriculture.|Chapter 8 - Promotion of Agricultural Industries and Products.|Article 11 - Alabama Industrial Hemp Research Program.|Section 2-8-381 - Definitions.

Section 2-8-381Definitions. As used in this article the following words shall have the following meanings: (1) DEPARTMENT. The Department of Agriculture and Industries. (2) GROWER. Any person, business entity, or cooperative licensed to grow industrial hemp by the department or an institution of higher education pursuant to this article. (3) HEMP PRODUCTS. Any and all products made from industrial hemp, including, but not limited to, cloth, cordage, fiber, food, fuel, paint, paper, particleboard, plastics, seed, seed meal and seed oil for consumption, and seed for cultivation if the seeds originate from industrial hemp varieties. (4) INDUSTRIAL HEMP or HEMP. The plant Cannabis sativa L. and any part of that plant, including the seeds thereof and all derivatives, extracts, cannabinoids, isomers, acids, salts, and salts of isomers, cultivated or possessed by a licensed grower or otherwise in accordance with the state's USDA-approved regulatory plan, whether growing or not, with a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis. Industrial hemp shall be considered an agricultural crop or an agricultural commodity, or both, in all respects under state law. The term excludes marijuana as defined in subdivision (14) of Section 20-2-2. (5) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION. A postsecondary institution, as defined in 20 U.S.C.S. 1001(a), that offers a major course of study in agriculture issues. (Act 2016-293, p. 730, §2; Act 2019-502, §1.)
AL Code § 2-8-382 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 2 - Agriculture.|Chapter 8 - Promotion of Agricultural Industries and Products.|Article 11 - Alabama Industrial Hemp Research Program.|Section 2-8-382 - Purposes; Programs; Legislative Findings.

Section 2-8-382Purposes; programs; legislative findings.  (a) The purpose of this article is to assist Alabama in the development of a more permanent, profitable, and diversified agriculture by moving to the forefront of industrial hemp production, development, and commercialization of hemp products in agribusiness, and other business sectors, both nationally and globally and to the greatest extent possible. These purposes may be accomplished, in part, through all of the following: (1) An industrial hemp research program overseen by the department, working exclusively or in conjunction with other research partners. This research program may include the planting, cultivation, and analysis of industrial hemp demonstration plots by selected growers that are licensed by the department pursuant to this article. (2) An institution of higher education's program to conduct industrial hemp research. (3) The pursuit by the department or an institution of higher education of any federal permits or waivers necessary to allow industrial hemp to be grown in Alabama. (b) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that the authority granted in this article and the purposes accomplished hereby are proper governmental and public purposes, and that the development of industrial hemp production and commercial markets for hemp products within the state is important to the economic well-being of the state. (Act 2016-293, §3.)
AL Code § 2-8-383 (2021)
2021 Code of Alabama|Title 2 - Agriculture.|Chapter 8 - Promotion of Agricultural Industries and Products.|Article 11 - Alabama Industrial Hemp Research Program.|Section 2-8-383 - Rulemaking Authority; Disposition of Funds; Powers and Duties of Department.

Section 2-8-383Rulemaking authority; disposition of funds; powers and duties of department.  (a) The department may adopt rules in accordance with the Alabama Administrative Procedure Act, as necessary to administer an industrial hemp research program and to license growers to grow industrial hemp pursuant to this article, including rules establishing reasonable fees for licenses, permits, or other necessary expenses to defray the cost of implementing and operating the industrial hemp research program in this state on an ongoing basis. All revenue collected pursuant to rules adopted for the industrial hemp research under this section shall be deposited in the State Treasury to the credit of the Agricultural Fund. (b) The department or an institution of higher education may pursue any permits or waivers from the United States Drug Enforcement Administration or appropriate federal agency that are necessary for the advancement of the industrial hemp research program. (c) The department and institutions of higher education may cooperate and work jointly toward implementing an industrial hemp research program. (d) The department or the institution of higher education shall coordinate the implementation of this article with other state agencies or departments, as needed, to protect public safety, diversify the agricultural economy of the state, attract new businesses to the state, create new job opportunities for Alabama residents, and create a commercial market for industrial hemp. (e) In accordance with the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, the department, in consultation with the Governor and Attorney General, shall develop a plan under which the state monitors and regulates the production of hemp. The plan shall be submitted to the United States Secretary of Agriculture for approval. (Act 2016-293, p. 730, §4; Act 2019-502, §1.)