290.659 Refunds.

Sec. 9.

    (1) Money remaining from the assessments collected under a marketing program may be refunded at the close of any marketing season upon a pro rata basis to all persons from whom assessments were collected. If the committee finds that the money may be necessary to defray the cost of operating a marketing program in succeeding marketing seasons, all or any portion of the money may be carried over into succeeding seasons.

    (2) Upon termination of any marketing program, all money remaining and not required to defray the expenses of operating the marketing program shall be refunded on a pro rata basis to persons from whom assessments were collected. If the committee finds that the refundable amount is so small as to make impracticable the computation and refunding of the money, it may be used to defray the expenses incurred by the department in the formulation, adoption, administration, or enforcement of any subsequent marketing program for the commodity or for agricultural research for that commodity. In the case of money earned from royalties, license fees, or other assets that may be collected or received after termination of a marketing program, that money shall be allocated to any institution of higher education engaged in agricultural or nutritional research, as determined by the director.