The Board shall have the following powers and duties:

(a) To meet not less than annually, and to organize and elect from among its members, by majority vote, a President and such other officers as may be necessary;

(b) To receive and evaluate, or, on its own initiative, develop, and budget for proposals for plans and projects and to submit such plans and projects to the Secretary for approval;

(c) To administer directly or through contract the provisions of this subpart in accordance with its terms and provisions;

(d) To develop and submit to the Secretary for the Secretary's approval, plans and projects conducted either by the Board or others;

(e) To prepare and submit to the Secretary for the Secretary's approval, which is required for the following to be implemented:

(1) Budgets on a fiscal period basis of its anticipated expenses and disbursements in the administration of this subpart, including the projected cost of plans and projects to be conducted by the Board directly or by way of contract or agreement; and

(2) The budget, plans, or projects for which State associations are to receive funds under §1230.72, including a general description of the proposed plan and project contemplated therein;

(f) With the approval of the Secretary, to enter into contracts or agreements with any person for the development and conduct of activities authorized under this subpart and for the payment of the cost thereof with funds collected through assessments pursuant to §1230.71. Any such contract or agreement shall provide that:

(1) The contracting party shall develop and submit to the Board a plan or project together with a budget or budgets which shall show the estimated cost to be incurred for such plan or project;

(2) Any such plan or project shall become effective upon approval of the Secretary; and

(3) The contracting party shall keep accurate records of all of its relevant transactions and make periodic reports to the Board of relevant activities conducted and an accounting for funds received and expended, and such other reports as the Secretary or the Board may require. The Secretary or employees of the Board may audit periodically the records of the contracting party;

(g) To appoint or employ staff persons as it may deem necessary, to define the duties and determine the compensation of each, to protect the handling of Board funds through fidelity bonds, and to conduct routine business.

(h) To disseminate information to or communicate with producers or State associations through programs or by direct contact utilizing the public postage system or other systems;

(i) To select committees and subcommittees of Board members and to adopt such rules and by laws for the conduct of its business as it may deem advisable;

(j) To utilize advisory committees of persons other than Board members to assist in the development of plans or projects and pay the reasonable expenses and fees of the members of such committees;

(k) To prescribe rules and regulations necessary to effectuate the terms and provisions of this subpart;

(l) To recommend to the Secretary amendments to this subpart;

(m) With the approval of the Secretary, to invest, pending disbursement pursuant to a plan or project, funds collected through assessments authorized under §1230.71 in, and only in, an obligation of the United States, a general obligation of any State or any political subdivision thereof, an interest-bearing account or certificate of deposit of a bank that is a member of the Federal Reserve System, or an obligation fully guaranteed as to principal and interest by the United States.

(n) To maintain such books and records, which shall be available to the Secretary for inspection and audit, and prepare and submit such reports as the Secretary may prescribe from time to time, and to make appropriate accounting with respect to the receipt and disbursement of all funds entrusted to it;

(o) To prepare and make public and available to producers and importers at least annually, a report of its activities carried out and an accounting of funds received and expended;

(p) To have an audit of its financial statements conducted by a certified public accountant in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards at the end of each fiscal period and at such other times as the Secretary may request, and to submit a copy of each such audit report to the Secretary;

(q) To receive, investigate, and report to the Secretary complaints of violations of the provisions of this subpart;

(r) To submit to the Secretary such information pursuant to this subpart as the Secretary may request; and

(s) To carry out an effective and coordinated program of promotion, research, and consumer information designed to strengthen the position of the pork industry in the marketplace and maintain, develop, and expand markets for pork and pork products.

[51 FR 31903, Sept. 5, 1986, as amended at 53 FR 30245, Aug. 11, 1988]