Ohio Revised Code
Chapter 924 | Agricultural Commodity Marketing Programs
Section 924.45 | Administration of Agreement.

Effective: January 1, 2018
Latest Legislation: House Bill 49 - 132nd General Assembly
(A)(1) After a marketing agreement takes effect, a board of directors that will administer the marketing agreement shall be established in accordance with the terms of the marketing agreement. Except for the director of agriculture or the director's designee who shall serve as an ex officio member of the board of directors, members of the board shall be selected only from individuals who are producers that signed the marketing agreement.
(2) The provisional board of directors created pursuant to division (B)(1) of section 924.42 of the Revised Code shall verify that the board of directors is established in accordance with the terms of the marketing agreement. If the provisional board of directors determines that the board of directors was not established in accordance with the terms of the marketing agreement, the provisional board shall notify the director who shall take appropriate actions to ensure that the board of directors is established in accordance with the terms of the marketing agreement. If the provisional board of directors determines that the board of directors was established in accordance with the terms of the marketing agreement, the provisional board shall cease to exist.
(B) A board of directors that is established to administer a marketing agreement shall do all of the following:
(1) Establish priorities of the board that are consistent with the estimated financial resources that will be generated under the terms of the marketing agreement and with the scope of the marketing agreement;
(2) Prepare a budget that is consistent with the estimated financial resources that will be generated under the terms of the marketing agreement and with the scope of the marketing agreement;
(3) Deposit all money collected pursuant to the marketing agreement with a bank as defined in section 1101.01 of the Revised Code. The board shall use the money only to pay the costs of the board in administering the marketing agreement and of the activities authorized under the marketing agreement and under sections 924.40 to 924.45 of the Revised Code.
(4) Establish a fiscal year for purposes of marketing activities performed under the terms of the marketing agreement;
(5) Publish an activity and financial report not later than sixty days after the end of a fiscal year. The board shall make the report available to each producer that signed the marketing agreement and to other interested parties.
(6) Provide annually to the director of agriculture and to each producer that signed the marketing agreement a financial statement that is prepared by a person who holds a current certificate as a certified public accountant issued under Chapter 4701. of the Revised Code. The board shall provide the financial statement to the director not later than sixty days after the end of a fiscal year.
(7) Reimburse the department of agriculture for actual administrative costs incurred by the department in the administration of sections 924.40 to 924.45 of the Revised Code. However, the amount reimbursed in a fiscal year shall not exceed ten per cent of the total amount of money collected in that fiscal year by the board of directors under the authority of the marketing agreement.
(8) Perform all other acts and exercise all other powers that are reasonably necessary, proper, or advisable to effectuate the purposes of sections 924.40 to 924.45 of the Revised Code.
(C) A board of directors that is established to administer a marketing agreement may do all of the following:
(1) Propose to the director rules that are necessary for the board to perform its duties under the requirements of the marketing agreement and under sections 924.40 to 924.45 of the Revised Code;
(2) Hire personnel and contract for services that are necessary for the implementation and administration of the marketing agreement;
(3) Receive and investigate, or cause to be investigated, a complaint concerning an alleged violation of a term of the marketing agreement. If the board determines that such a violation has occurred, the board shall refer the matter to the director for enforcement.
(4) Amend the marketing agreement in accordance with the terms of the marketing agreement and with sections 924.40 to 924.45 of the Revised Code;
(5) Terminate the marketing agreement with the approval of a majority of the participating producers that are signatories to the marketing agreement. If the marketing agreement is terminated, the board shall distribute any remaining unobligated money collected under the authority of the marketing agreement to each participating producer in the same proportion that the producer paid assessments under the marketing agreement.