§157-15  Audit of books and accounts. The board of agriculture may examine and audit the books and accounts oflicensed producers, producer-distributors, and distributors for the purpose ofdetermining how payments to producers and producer-distributors are computed,whether the amounts of the payments are fair, or whether any provisions of thischapter affecting such payments, directly or indirectly, have been or are beingviolated.  The board may also examine and audit the costs of the production,handling, processing, distribution, and marketing of milk as they may affectsuch payments, directly or indirectly.  The board shall conduct a monthly auditwith Federal Milk Marketing Order specifications which examines and verifiesmilk utilization by the processing plants.  The board may also contract for anindependent audit with Federal Milk Marketing Order specifications to examineand verify milk utilization by the processing plants at least once during thefiscal year for each processor when:

(1)  A class I milk only situation exists; and

(2)  Milk is utilized for other than class I purposesor rejected for reasons other than antibiotics, high temperature, lowcryoscope, off-flavor, somatic cell count, or as determined necessary by theboard.

The audit report for each processing plant shall bemade available after completion. [L 1967, c 260, §8; HRS §157-15; am L 1988, c25, §2; am L 1994, c 144, §2]