Hearings regarding abolishment of a cotton boll weevil

control district; notice of hearings. Within thirty days after the petition has been filed with the director and upon payment of the cost estimate, the director shall cause notices to be given of the hearing in the affected cotton boll weevil control district. The notice of hearing shall be published at least fourteen days prior to the date of hearing in a newspaper of general circulation in the affected cotton boll weevil control district. After public hearing, if the director decides there is justification for abolishing a cotton boll weevil control district, the department shall hold a referendum. When cotton producers who represent sixty-six percent of the cotton acreage within a cotton boll weevil control district vote in favor of the abolishment of the cotton boll weevil control district, such a cotton boll weevil control district shall be abolished. The local cotton boll weevil control committee shall promptly move to cease expenditures of cotton boll weevil control district funds and make an accounting of funds spent and return remaining funds in accordance with Section 16 [76-6A-16 NMSA 1978] of the Cotton Boll Weevil Control Act.