(a) Three alternate handler members, one from each district and one who pays assessments exclusively on eggs or egg products produced outside of California, shall be elected in the same manner as the handler members.
(b) Under procedures established by the commission, any alternate handler member may serve in place of any absent handler member on the commission regardless of whether the alternate handler was chosen from the district the absent handler member represents and shall have all the rights, privileges, and powers of the handler member when serving on the commission.
(c) In the event of death, removal, resignation, or disqualification of a handler member, the alternate handler shall act as a handler member on the commission until a qualified successor is elected.