Ohio Code § 924.45

§ 924.45.

(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.