76953.5. (a) Before the referendum vote is conducted by the secretary, the proponents of the council shall deposit with the secretary the amount that the secretary determines is necessary to defray the expenses of preparing the necessary lists and information and conducting the referendum vote.
(b) Any funds not used in carrying out this article shall be returned to the proponents of the council who deposited the funds with the secretary.
(c) Upon establishment of the council, the council may reimburse the proponents of the council for any funds deposited with the secretary that were used in carrying out this article, and for any legal expenses and costs incurred in establishing the council.
(d) After approval by the Commercial Salmon Trollers Advisory Committee created pursuant to Section 7862 of the Fish and Game Code, the Department of Fish and Wildlife may expend funds collected pursuant to Section 7861 of the Fish and Game Code, for payment to the secretary to pay necessary costs incurred in conducting the implementation referendum vote. If the commercial salmon vessel operators who voted in the implementation referendum voted in favor of implementing this article, as provided in Section 76952, the council shall reimburse the Commercial Salmon Stamp Account in the Fish and Game Preservation Fund all amounts received from that fund.
(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 86, Sec. 147. (SB 1171) Effective January 1, 2017.)