Collection, deposit, and disbursement of sweet potato tax money

A. The tax imposed and levied by this Part shall be collected by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry from the shipper or processor along with the fee collected in connection with the inspection of sweet potatoes and issuance of certificates and tags required for shipment thereof. B. The proceeds of the tax collected from the shippers and processors by the department, together with the proceeds from the sale of any authorized publications of the commission, shall be deposited with the state treasurer in a special fund to be established by him for the Louisiana Sweet Potato Advertising and Development Commission in the administration of this Part, and disbursements thereof shall be made on the warrant of the commissioner drawn on the state treasurer out of the funds; however, disbursements may be authorized only by a majority of the members of the commission. The interest earned on the investment of monies in this fund shall be credited to the fund. C. The proceeds of two cents of the four-cent per bushel tax collected each year shall be disbursed by the commissioner when authorized by a majority of the commission as follows: (1) One-eighth of the above amount to finance activities and services initiated by the Louisiana Sweet Potato Association as approved by a majority of the members of the commission. (2) Seven-eighths of the above amount to the Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station to finance sweet potato research work as approved by a majority of the members of the commission.