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Title 7

Displaying title 7, up to date as of 8/06/2026. Title 7 was last amended 8/03/2026.
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Cotton Board

§ 1205.322 Establishment and membership.

(a) There is hereby established a Cotton Board composed of:

(1) Representatives of cotton producers, each of whom shall have an alternate, selected by the Secretary from nominations submitted by eligible producer organizations within a cotton-producing state, as certified pursuant to § 1205.341, or, if the Secretary determines that a substantial number of producers are not members of or their interests are not represented by any such eligible organizations, from nominations made by producers in a manner authorized by the Secretary, and

(2) Representatives of cotton importers, each of whom shall have an alternate, selected by the Secretary from nominations submitted by eligible importer organizations, as certified pursuant to § 1205.342, or, if the Secretary determines that a substantial number of importers are not members of or their interests are not represented by any such eligible organization, from nominations made by importers in a manner authorized by the Secretary.

(b) Representation on the Cotton Board shall be as follows:

(1) Each cotton-producing state shall have at least one member and an additional member for each 1 million bales or major fraction (more than half) thereof of cotton produced in the state and marketed above one million bales during the period specified in the regulations for determining Board membership; and

(2) Cotton importers shall be represented by an appropriate number of representatives, as determined by the Secretary, of importers of cotton subject to assessment during the period specified in the regulations for determining Board membership. That number shall not be less than two members. The initial importer representation on the Board shall consist of four representatives. The Secretary may, after consultation with organizations representing importers, reduce or increase the number of importer representatives, in the manner prescribed by the Secretary.

[56 FR 64472, Dec. 10, 1991]

§ 1205.323 Term of office.

All members of the Board and their alternatives shall serve for terms of three years. Each member and alternate shall continue to serve until a successor is selected and has qualified.

[56 FR 64472, Dec. 10, 1991]

§ 1205.324 Nominations.

All nominations authorized under § 1205.322 shall be made within such a period of time and in such a manner as the Secretary shall prescribe. The eligible producer organizations within each cotton-producing state, as certified pursuant to § 1205.341, shall caucus for the purpose of jointly nominating two qualified persons for each member and each alternate member to be selected to represent the cotton producers of such cotton-producing state. The eligible importer organizations, as certified pursuant to § 1205.342, shall caucus for the purpose of jointly nominating two qualified persons for each member and alternate member to be selected to represent cotton importers. If joint agreement is not reached with respect to the nominees for any such position, each such organization may nominate two qualified persons for any position on which there is no agreement.

[56 FR 64472, Dec. 10, 1991; 56 FR 66670, Dec. 24, 1991]

§ 1205.325 Selection.

From the nominations made pursuant to §§ 1205.322 and 1205.324, the Secretary shall select the members of the Board and an alternate for each member on the basis of representation provided for in §§ 1205.322 and 1205.323.

[56 FR 64473, Dec. 10, 1991]

§ 1205.326 Acceptance.

Any person selected by the Secretary as a member or as an alternate member of the Board shall qualify by filing a written acceptance with the Secretary promptly after being notified of such selection.

[31 FR 16758, Dec. 31, 1966. Redesignated at 56 FR 64472, Dec. 10, 1991]

§ 1205.327 Vacancies.

To fill any vacancy occasioned by the failure of any person selected as a member or as an alternate member of the Board to qualify, or in the event of death, removal, resignation or disqualification of any member or alternate member of the Board, a successor for the unexpired term of such member or alternate member of the Board shall be nominated and selected in the manner specified in §§ 1205.322, 1205.324 and 1205.325.

[56 FR 64473, Dec. 10, 1991]

§ 1205.328 Alternate members.

An alternate member of the Board, during the absence of the member for whom the person is the alternate, shall act in the place and stead of such member and perform such other duties as assigned. In the event of death, removal, resignation or disqualification of a member, the alternate for the member shall act for the member until a successor for such member is selected and qualified. In the event that both a producer member of the Board and the member's alternate are unable to attend a meeting, the Board may designate any other alternate member from the same cotton-producing state or region to serve in such member's place and stead of such meeting. In the event that both an importer member and the member's alternate are unable to attend a meeting, the Board may designate any other importer alternate member to serve in such member's place and stead at such meeting.

[56 FR 64473, Dec. 10, 1991]

§ 1205.329 Procedure.

A majority of the members of the Board, or alternates acting for members, shall constitute a quorum and any action of the Board shall require the concurring votes of at least a majority of those present and voting. At assembled meetings all votes shall be cast in person. For routine and noncontroversial matters which do not require deliberation and the exchange of views, and in matters of an emergency nature when there is not enough time to call an assembled meeting of the Board, the Board may also take action upon the concurring votes of a majority of its members by mail, telegraph or telephone, but any such action by telephone shall be confirmed promptly in writing.

[31 FR 16758, Dec. 31, 1966. Redesignated at 56 FR 64472, Dec. 10, 1991]

§ 1205.330 Compensation and reimbursement.

The members of the Board, and alternates when acting as members, shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses, as approved by the Board, incurred by them in the performance of their duties under this subpart.

[31 FR 16758, Dec. 31, 1966. Redesignated at 56 FR 64472, Dec. 10, 1991]

§ 1205.331 Powers.

The Board shall have the following powers:

(a) To administer the provisions of this subpart in accordance with its terms and provisions;

(b) Subject to the approval of the Secretary, to make rules and regulations to effectuate the terms and provisions of this subpart including the designation of the handler, importer, or other person responsible for collecting the assessments authorized by § 1205.335, which designation may be of different handlers, importers, or other persons, or classes of handlers, importers, or other persons, to recognize differences in marketing practices or procedures in any state or area;

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

(d) To recommend to the Secretary amendments to this subpart.

[31 FR 16758, Dec. 31, 1966, as amended at 42 FR 4813, Jan. 26, 1977. Redesignated and amended at 56 FR 64472, 64473, Dec. 10, 1991]

§ 1205.332 Duties.

The Board shall have the following duties:

(a) To select from among its members a chairman and such other officers as may be necessary for the conduct of its business, and to define their duties;

(b) To appoint or employ such persons as it may deem necessary and to determine the compensation and to define the duties of each;

(c) With the approval of the Secretary, to enter into contracts or agreements for the development and submission to it of research and promotion plans or projects authorized by § 1205.333, and for the carrying out of such plans or projects when approved by the Secretary, and for the payment of costs thereof with funds collected pursuant to § 1205.335, with an organization or association whose governing body consists of cotton producers selected by the cotton-producer organizations certified by the Secretary under § 1205.341, in such manner that the producers of each cotton-producing state will, to the extent practicable, have representation on the governing body of such organization in the proportion that the cotton marketed by the producers of such state bears to the total marketed by the producers of all cotton-producing states. Any such contract or agreement shall provide that such contracting organization or association shall develop and submit annually to the Cotton Board, for the purpose of review and making recommendations to the Secretary, a program of research, advertising, and sales promotion projects, together with a budget, or budgets, which shall show the estimated cost to be incurred for such projects, and that any such projects shall become effective upon approval by the Secretary. Any such contract or agreement shall also provide that the contracting organization shall keep accurate records of all its transactions, which shall be available to the Secretary and Board on demand, and make an annual report to the Cotton Board of activities carried out and an accounting for funds received and expended, and such other reports as the Secretary may require;

(d) To review and submit to the Secretary any research and promotion plans or projects which have been developed and submitted to it by the contracting organization or association, together with its recommendations with respect to the approval thereof by the Secretary;

(e) To submit to the Secretary for his approval budgets on a fiscal period basis of its anticipated expenses and disbursements in the administration of this subpart, including probable costs of advertising and promotion and research and development projects as estimated in the budget or budgets submitted to it by the contracting organization or association, with the Board's recommendations with respect thereto;

(f) To maintain such books and records and prepare and submit such reports from time to time to the Secretary as he may prescribe, and to make appropriate accounting with respect to the receipt and disbursement of all funds entrusted to it;

(g) To cause its books to be audited by a competent public accountant at least once each fiscal period and at such other times as the Secretary may request, and to submit a copy of each such audit to the Secretary;

(h) To give the Secretary the same notice of meetings of the Board as is given to members in order that his representative may attend such meetings;

(i) To act as intermediary between the Secretary and any producer, importer, or handler.

(j) To submit to the Secretary such information as he may request.

[31 FR 16758, Dec. 31, 1966. Redesignated and amended at 56 FR 64472, 64473, Dec. 10, 1991]