7 U.S.C. § 7416 — Assessments
submitted 30 years ago by Pub. L. 104-127 to r/title-7-AGRICULTURE · 649 words · no verdicts yet
Orders must impose assessments on specified first handlers and, when covered, importers. The section sets collection, rates, investments, late charges, and refunds if an order fails its referendum.
(a) Assessments authorized. While an order* is in effect, assessments must be paid by (1) first handlers for commodities produced and marketed in the United States*, and (2) importers for commodities imported into the United States when section 7415(f) covers them.
(b) Collection. Assessments must be sent to the board* when and how the order requires.
(c) Limitation. Only one assessment may be imposed on a first handler* or importer* for a commodity.
(d) Rates. The board recommends one or more rates. They take effect if the Secretary* approves them. The order may require a referendum before a rate increases.
(e) Late payment. Late-payment and interest charges may be imposed on anyone who fails to remit an assessment as required. The Secretary sets the rate.
(f) Investment. Before budgeted disbursement, the board may invest assessments in United States or agency obligations; general obligations of a State* or its political subdivision; interest-bearing Federal Reserve member-bank accounts or certificates of deposit; or obligations fully guaranteed by the United States.
(g) Refund escrow. (1) From the order’s effective date until the Secretary announces the section 7417(b)(1) referendum result, the board must maintain an escrow account of the kind described in subsection (f)(3) and deposit money in it. (2) The deposit must equal 10 percent of assessments collected in that period. (3) If the order fails the referendum, a person* may demand a refund of assessments remitted for that person, subject to paragraphs (4)-(6). (4) The order sets the time and form. (5) The board must promptly pay after satisfactory proof of payment. (6) If the account is insufficient, refunds are prorated. (7) If the order passes, the account closes and its funds become available for authorized board disbursement.
While an order* issued under this subchapter is in effect with respect to an agricultural commodity*, assessments shall be—
paid by first handlers with respect to the agricultural commodity produced and marketed in the United States*; and
paid by importers with respect to the agricultural commodity imported into the United States, if the imported agricultural commodity is covered by the order pursuant to section 7415(f) of this title.
Assessments required under an order shall be remitted to the board* established under the order at the time and in the manner prescribed by the order.
Not more than 1 assessment may be levied on a first handler* or importer* under subsection (a) with respect to any agricultural commodity.
The board shall recommend to the Secretary* 1 or more rates of assessment to be levied under subsection (a). If approved by the Secretary, the rates shall take effect. An order may provide that an assessment rate may not be increased unless approved by a referendum conducted pursuant to section 7417 of this title.
Late-payment and interest charges may be levied on each person* subject to an order who fails to remit an assessment in accordance with subsection (b).
The rate for the charges shall be specified by the Secretary.
Pending disbursement of assessments under a budget approved by the Secretary, a board may invest assessments collected under this section in—
obligations of the United States or any agency of the United States;
general obligations of any State* or any political subdivision of a State;
interest-bearing accounts or certificates of deposit of financial institutions that are members of the Federal Reserve System; or
obligations fully guaranteed as to principal and interest by the United States.
During the period beginning on the effective date of an order and ending on the date the Secretary announces the results of a referendum that is conducted under section 7417(b)(1) of this title with respect to the order, the board established under the order shall—
establish and maintain an escrow account of the kind described in subsection (f)(3) to be used to refund assessments; and
deposit funds in the account in accordance with paragraph (2).
The board shall deposit in the account an amount equal to 10 percent of the assessments collected during the period referred to in paragraph (1).
Subject to paragraphs (4), (5), and (6), persons subject to an order shall be eligible to demand a refund of assessments collected during the period referred to in paragraph (1) if—
the assessments were remitted on behalf of the person; and
the order is not approved in the referendum.
The demand for a refund shall be made at such time and in such form as specified by the order.
A person entitled to a refund shall be paid promptly after the board receives satisfactory proof that the assessment for which the refund is demanded was paid on behalf of the person who makes the demand.
If the funds in the escrow account required by paragraph (1) are insufficient to pay the amount of all refunds that persons subject to an order otherwise would have a right to receive under this subsection, the board shall prorate the amount of the funds among all the persons.
If the order is approved in a referendum conducted under section 7417(b)(1) of this title—
the escrow account shall be closed; and
the funds shall be available to the board for disbursement as authorized in the order.
Source credit: (Pub. L. 104–127, title V, § 517, Apr. 4, 1996, 110 Stat. 1042.)
- 1996Enacted · Pub. L. 104-127 · 110 Stat. 1042
A history note hasn’t been published yet. The record shows enactment by Pub. L. 104-127 on 1996-04-04.
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