(a) Each handler shall submit assessments to the Vidalia Onion Committee on a monthly basis for each month during the fiscal period in which they made shipments. Each such assessment shall be paid to the Committee not later than 5 p.m. on the tenth day of each month following the month in which any shipments were made. Should the tenth day of the month fall on a weekend or holiday, assessments are due by the first business day following the tenth day of the month.

(b) Each handler shall pay interest of 1.5 percent per month on any assessments levied pursuant to § 955.42 and on any accrued unpaid interest beginning the day immediately after the date the monthly assessments were due, until the delinquent handler's assessments, plus applicable interest, have been paid in full. In addition to the interest charge, the Committee shall impose a late payment charge on any handler whose assessment payment has not been received within 10 days of the due date. The late payment charge shall be 10 percent of the late assessments.