(1) Upon being certified by the Commissioner, the association shall be fully authorized and empowered to hold and conduct on the part of the cotton growers a referendum on the question of whether or not an assessment shall be levied upon the growers to offset, in whole or in part, the cost of boll weevil or other cotton pest suppression or eradication programs.
(2) Any assessment levied upon cotton growers shall be based upon the number of acres of cotton planted, and shall not exceed twenty dollars ($20) per acre.