§ 7414. Required terms in orders
(b)
Board
(1)
Establishment
Each order shall establish a board to carry out a program of generic promotion, research, and information regarding the agricultural commodity covered by the order and intended to effectuate the purpose of this subchapter.
(2)
Board membership
(A)
Number of members
Each board shall consist of the number of members considered by the Secretary, in consultation with the agricultural commodity industry involved, to be appropriate to administer the order. In addition to members, the Secretary may also provide for alternates on the board.
(B)
Appointment
The Secretary shall appoint the members and any alternates of a board from among producers of the agricultural commodity and first handlers and others in the marketing chain as appropriate. If imports of the agricultural commodity covered by an order are subject to assessment under section
7415
(f) of this title, the Secretary shall also appoint importers as members of the board and as alternates if alternates are included on the board. The Secretary may appoint 1 or more members of the general public to each board.
(C)
Nominations
The Secretary may make appointments from nominations made pursuant to the method set forth in the order.
(D)
Geographical representation
To ensure fair and equitable representation of the agricultural commodity industry covered by an order, the composition of each board shall reflect the geographical distribution of the production of the agricultural commodity involved in the United States and the quantity or value of the agricultural commodity imported into the United States.
(3)
Reapportionment of board membership
In accordance with rules issued by the Secretary, at least once in each 5-year period, but not more frequently than once in each 3-year period, each board shall—
(4)
Notice
(5)
Term of office
(A)
In general
The members and any alternates of a board shall each serve for a term of 3 years, except that the members and any alternates initially appointed to a board shall serve for terms of not more than 2, 3, and 4 years, as specified by the order.
(B)
Limitation on consecutive terms
A member or alternate may serve not more than 2 consecutive terms.
(c)
Powers and duties of board
Each order shall specify the powers and duties of the board established under the order, which shall include the power and duty—
(2)
to develop and recommend to the Secretary for approval such bylaws as may be necessary for the functioning of the board and such rules as may be necessary to administer the order, including activities authorized to be carried out under the order;
(3)
to meet, organize, and select from among the members of the board a chairperson, other officers, and committees and subcommittees, as the board determines to be appropriate;
(4)
to employ persons, other than the members, as the board considers necessary to assist the board in carrying out its duties, and to determine the compensation and specify the duties of the persons;
(5)
subject to subsection (e) of this section, to develop and carry out generic promotion, research, and information activities relating to the agricultural commodity covered by the order;
(6)
to prepare and submit for the approval of the Secretary, before the beginning of each fiscal year, rates of assessment under section
7416 of this title and an annual budget of the anticipated expenses to be incurred in the administration of the order, including the probable cost of each promotion, research, and information activity proposed to be developed or carried out by the board;
(8)
subject to subsection (f) of this section, to enter into contracts or agreements to develop and carry out generic promotion, research, and information activities relating to the agricultural commodity covered by the order;
(9)
to pay the cost of the activities with assessments collected under section
7416 of this title, earnings from invested assessments, and other funds;
(10)
to keep records that accurately reflect the actions and transactions of the board, to keep and report minutes of each meeting of the board to the Secretary, and to furnish the Secretary with any information or records the Secretary requests;
(d)
Prohibited activities
A board may not engage in, and shall prohibit the employees and agents of the board from engaging in—
(e)
Activities and budgets
(1)
Activities
Each order shall require the board established under the order to submit to the Secretary for approval plans and projects for promotion, research, or information relating to the agricultural commodity covered by the order.
(2)
Budgets
(A)
Submission to Secretary
Each order shall require the board established under the order to submit to the Secretary for approval a budget of its anticipated annual expenses and disbursements to be paid to administer the order. The budget shall be submitted before the beginning of a fiscal year and as frequently as may be necessary after the beginning of the fiscal year.
(3)
Incurring expenses
A board may incur the expenses described in paragraph (2) and other expenses for the administration, maintenance, and functioning of the board as authorized by the Secretary.
(4)
Payment of expenses
Expenses incurred under paragraph (3) shall be paid by a board using assessments collected under section
7416 of this title, earnings obtained from assessments, and other income of the board. Any funds borrowed by the board shall be expended only for startup costs and capital outlays.
(5)
Limitation on spending
For fiscal years beginning 3 or more years after the date of the establishment of a board, the board may not expend for administration (except for reimbursements to the Secretary required under paragraph (2)(B)), maintenance, and functioning of the board in a fiscal year an amount that exceeds 15 percent of the assessment and other income received by the board for the fiscal year.
(f)
Contracts and agreements
(1)
In general
Each order shall provide that, with the approval of the Secretary, the board established under the order may—
(A)
enter into contracts and agreements to carry out generic promotion, research, and information activities relating to the agricultural commodity covered by the order, including contracts and agreements with producer associations or other entities as considered appropriate by the Secretary; and
(B)
pay the cost of approved generic promotion, research, and information activities using assessments collected under section
7416 of this title, earnings obtained from assessments, and other income of the board.
(g)
Records of board
(1)
In general
Each order shall require the board established under the order—
(A)
to maintain such records as the Secretary may require and to make the records available to the Secretary for inspection and audit;
(i)
Books and records of persons covered by order
(1)
In general
Each order shall require that producers, first handlers and other persons in the marketing chain as appropriate, and importers covered by the order shall—
(2)
Time requirement
Any record required to be maintained under paragraph (1) shall be maintained for such time period as the Secretary may prescribe.
(3)
Other information
The Secretary may use, and may authorize the board to use under this subchapter, information regarding persons subject to an order that is collected by the Department under any other law.
(4)
Confidentiality of information
(A)
In general
Except as otherwise provided in this subchapter, all information obtained under paragraph (1) or as part of a referendum under section
7417 of this title shall be kept confidential by all officers, employees, and agents of the Department and of the board.