The Board shall have the following powers and duties:

(a) To administer this subpart in accordance with its terms and conditions and to collect assessments;

(b) To develop and recommend to the Secretary for approval such bylaws as may be necessary for the functioning of the Board, and such rules and regulations as may be necessary to administer the Order, including activities authorized to be carried out under the Order;

(c) To meet not less than annually, organize, and select from among the members of the Board a chairperson, vice chairperson, secretary/treasurer, other officers, and committees and subcommittees, as the Board determines to be appropriate. The committee and subcommittees may include persons other than Board members, including representatives of Board members, as the Board deems necessary and appropriate, provided Board members or their representative constitute a majority of all committees and subcommittees;

(d) To employ or contract with persons, other than the Board members, as the Board considers necessary to assist the Board in carrying out its duties, and to determine the compensation and specify the duties of the persons;

(e) To notify manufacturers and importers of all Board meetings through a press release or other means and to give the Secretary the same notice of meetings of the Board (including committee, subcommittee, and the like) as is given to members so that the Secretary's representative(s) may attend such meetings, and to keep and report minutes of each meeting of the Board to the Secretary;

(f) To develop and submit programs, plans and projects to the Secretary for the Secretary's approval, and enter into contracts or agreements related to such programs, plans and projects, which must be approved by the Secretary before becoming effective, for the development and carrying out of programs, plans or projects of promotion, research and information. The payment of costs for such activities shall be from funds collected pursuant to this Order. Each contract or agreement shall provide that:

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

(2) The contractor or agreeing party shall keep accurate records of all its transactions and make periodic reports to the Board of activities conducted, submit accounting for funds received and expended, and make such other reports as the Secretary or the Board may require;

(3) The Secretary may audit the records of the contracting or agreeing party periodically; and

(4) Any subcontractor who enters into a contract with a Board contractor and who receives or otherwise uses funds allocated by the Board shall be subject to the same provisions as the contractor.

(g) To prepare and submit for the approval of the Secretary fiscal year budgets in accordance with § 1222.50;

(h) To borrow funds necessary for startup expenses of the Order during the first year of operation by the Board;

(i) To invest assessments collected and other funds received pursuant to the Order and use earnings from invested assessments to pay for activities carried out pursuant to the Order;

(j) To recommend changes to the assessment rates as provided in this part;

(k) To cause its books to be audited by an independent auditor at the end of each fiscal year and at such other times as the Secretary may request, and to submit a report of the audit directly to the Secretary;

(l) To periodically prepare and make public reports of program activities and, at least once each fiscal year, to make public an accounting of funds received and expended;

(m) To maintain such minutes, books and records and prepare and submit such reports and records from time to time to the Secretary as the Secretary may prescribe; to make appropriate accounting with respect to the receipt and disbursement of all funds entrusted to it; and to keep records that accurately reflect the actions and transactions of the Board;

(n) To act as an intermediary between the Secretary and any manufacturer or importer;

(o) To receive, investigate, and report to the Secretary complaints of violations of the Order;

(p) To recommend to the Secretary such amendments to the Order as the Board considers appropriate; and

(q) To work to achieve an effective, continuous, and coordinated program of promotion, research, and information and to carry out programs, plans, and projects designed to provide maximum benefits to the paper and paper-based packaging industry.