79180. (a) Within 60 days of the effective date of this chapter, the secretary shall establish a list of fishermen eligible to vote on the implementation of this chapter. In establishing the list, the secretary may require that fishermen submit the names and mailing addresses of all fishermen. The secretary also may request the assistance of the Director of Fish and Wildlife for the names of all licensed fishermen engaged in the spiny lobster fishery during the previous season and the volume of landings of each fisherman. The request for information shall be in writing and the information provided shall be confidential and not made public. Notwithstanding Section 8022 of the Fish and Game Code or any other law, the Director of Fish and Wildlife shall comply with the request within 30 days of receipt.
(b) A fisherman whose name does not appear on the appropriate list may have his or her name placed on the list by filing with the secretary a signed statement identifying himself or herself as a fisherman and submitting other supporting documentation. Failure to be on the list does not exempt the person from paying assessments and does not invalidate any industry votes conducted pursuant to this article.
(c) Proponents and opponents of establishing the commission pursuant to this chapter may contact fishermen on the lists through the secretary in a form and manner prescribed by the secretary, if all expenses associated with those contacts are paid in advance.
(Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 503, Sec. 1. (AB 944) Effective January 1, 2018. Repealed conditionally pursuant to Section 79182.5.)