Concrete Masonry Products Research, Education, and Promotion Act of 2013
3/14/2024, 12:48 PMCongressional Summary of S 429
Concrete Masonry Products Research, Education, and Promotion Act of 2013 - (Sec. 4) Directs the Secretary of Commerce to issue orders applicable to manufacturers of concrete masonry products (concrete).
(Sec. 5) Requires any such order to provide for establishment of a Concrete Masonry Products Board to carry out a program of generic promotion, research, and information regarding concrete products.
Prohibits the Board from engaging in any action, nor using any funds received under this Act, to: (1) influence legislation or governmental action, or (2) engage in an action that would be a conflict of interest or in advertising that is false or misleading.
Requires an order to require manufacturers to:
- maintain records sufficient to ensure compliance with it and regulations;
- submit to the Board any required information to carry out its responsibilities; and
- make these records available, during normal business hours, for inspection by Board employees or agents or the Department of Commerce, including any records necessary to verify such information.
(Sec. 6) Requires any such order to require assessments to be paid by manufacturers with respect to concrete manufactured and marketed in the United States.
Establishes an initial assessment rate at $0.01 per concrete masonry unit sold. Grants the Board authority to increase or decrease such rate but limits the change to $0.01 per such unit. Prohibits the rate from exceeding $0.05 per unit and from being changed more than once annually.
Authorizes the Board to make specified investments of collected assessments.
Requires at least 50% of the assessments (less administrative expenses) paid by a manufacturer to be used to support research, education, and promotion plans and projects in support of the geographic region of the manufacturer.
(Sec. 7) Directs the Secretary, during the 60-day period preceding the proposed effective date of an order, to conduct a referendum for order approval, according to specified procedures, among the manufacturers required to pay assessments under it.
(Sec. 8) Prescribes requirements for petition and review of an order, including order enforcement through U.S. district courts. Authorizes the Secretary to assess a civil penalty on any person willfully violating such an order or regulation.
(Sec. 10) Authorizes the Secretary to conduct appropriate investigations to administer this Act (with power of subpoena).
(Sec. 11) Directs the Secretary to suspend or terminate any order or provision of an order that obstructs or does not tend to effectuate the purposes of this Act, or that is not favored by persons voting in a referendum.
(Sec. 16) Prohibits the use of funds appropriated to carry out this Act for the Board's payment of expenses or expenditures in administering the order.
