§982.61. Assessments. — Inbound Citations

(a) The Board, with the approval of the Secretary, may establish or provide for the establishment of projects involving production research, marketing research and development, and marketing promotion, including paid advertising, designed to assist, improve, or promote the marketing, distribution, consumption, or efficient production of hazelnuts. The Board may also provide for crediting the pro rata expense assessment obligations of a handler with such portion of such handler's direct expenditures for such marketing promotion including paid advertising as may be authorized. The expenses of such projects shall be paid from funds collected pursuant to § 982.61, § 982.63, or credited pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section.

The Board is authorized to incur such expenses including maintenance of an operating reserve fund as the Secretary may find are reasonable and likely to be incurred by it during each marketing year, for the maintenance and functioning of the Board and for such purposes as the Secretary may, pursuant to the provisions of this subpart, determine to be appropriate. The recommendation of the Board as to the expenses and size of the operating reserve for each such marketing year, together with all data supporting such recommendations, shall be submitted to the Secretary at the beginning of the fiscal year in connection with which such recommendation is made. The funds to cover such expenses shall be acquired by levying assessments as provided in § 982.61.