In any civil or criminal action or proceeding for violation of the Cartwright Act (Section 16700, Business and Professions Code, and following), the Unfair Practices Act (Section 17000, Business and Professions Code, and following), the Fair Trade Act (Section 16900, Business and Professions Code, and following), Section 1673 of the Civil Code, or any rule of statutory or common law against monopolies or combinations in restraint of trade, proof that the act complained of was done in compliance with the provisions of this chapter or a rule or regulation of the commission issued under this chapter and in furtherance of purposes and provisions of this chapter, shall be a complete defense to such action or proceeding.

The commission shall reimburse to the secretary all expenses incurred by them in the supervision of elections.

This chapter shall be liberally construed. If any section, clause or part of this chapter is for any reason held to be unconstitutional or invalid as applied to any person or as applied under certain circumstances, such decision shall not affect the remaining portions of this chapter nor the application of this chapter to other persons or under other circumstances.