§4157.  Powers and duties of the commissioner

A.  The commissioner shall administer and enforce the provisions of this Part in accordance with rules and regulations adopted by the board.  In the administration and enforcement of this Part, the commissioner, or his duly authorized agent, may enter the premises of any dairy cooperative, processor, or distributor regulated under this Part and examine that person's books, accounts, and records for purposes of determining that the assessments required under this Part have been collected and transmitted to the commissioner.

B.  The commissioner, or his duly authorized agent, shall collect the assessments authorized under this Part.  The commissioner may retain a portion not to exceed three percent of the total assessments collected by him to defray the costs of collection of the assessments.  The commissioner shall transfer the balance of all assessments collected by him to the board on a monthly basis.

C.  The commissioner may sue on behalf of the board to collect any assessments or penalties for delinquent payment of assessments which are not paid over to the commissioner as required under this Part.

D.  The commissioner shall appoint and employ all personnel necessary for the efficient and proper administration of this Part, except as provided in R.S. 3:4155(B).

Added by Acts 1983, No. 526, §1, eff. July 8, 1983; Acts 2009, No. 24, §8L, eff. June 12, 2009; Acts 2010, No. 495, §1, eff. June 24, 2010.