The commissioner of agriculture shall, upon notification of any producer or producer group, that any person, firm or corporation has failed to pay for milk delivered by them, make an immediate investigation and audit of such person's, firm's, corporation's records to determine amounts due milk producers. If such investigation and audit reveals that such person, firm, or corporation owes and is unable to pay, or refuses to pay, producers for milk delivered, the commissioner shall collect on the surety bond or other security by court action if necessary, and pro-rate the proceeds of such surety bond or other security to the milk producers based on amounts due the producers as shown by the official audit of the records.
La. R.S. § 3:645