the discretion to make annual adjustments in the level of exemption to account for inflation. For the purpose of this section, a producer's or importer's total sales shall include, in those cases in which the producer or importer is an individual, sales attributable to such person's spouse, children, grandchildren, and parents; in those cases in which the producer or importer is a partnership or a member of a partnership, sales attributable to the other partners; and, in those cases in which the producer or importer is a corporation, sales attributable to any corporate subsidaries of which such corporation owns 50 per centum or more of the stock, or if such subsidiaries are not corporations, subsidiaries which are controlled by such corporation. In addition, in determining a producer's or importer's total sales, the sales of any corporation in which such producer or importer owns 50 per centum or more of the stock shall be attributed to such producer or importer. For these purposes stock in the same corporation which is owned by such producer's or importer's spouse, children, grandchildren, parents, partners, and any corporation 50 per centum or more of whose stock is owned by the producer or importer shall be treated as owned by the producer or importer. PRODUCER OR IMPORTER REFUND SEC. 1713.14 Notwithstanding any other provisions of this title, any producer or importer who pays an assessment shall have the right to demand and receive from the Floraboard a refund of such assessment: Provided, That such demand shall be made by such producer or importer in accordance with regulations and on a form and within a time period prescribed by the Floraboard and approved by the Secretary, but in no event more than sixty days after the end of the month in which the assessment was paid. Such refund shall be made not later than sixty days after submission of proof satisfactory to the Floraboard that the producer or importer paid the assessment for which refund is sought. PETITION AND REVIEW SEC. 1714.15 (a) Any person subject to any order may file a written petition with the Secretary, stating that any such order or any provisions of such order or any obligations imposed in connection therewith is not in accordance with law and praying for a modification thereof or to be exempted therefrom. Such person shall thereupon be given an opportunity for a hearing upon such petition, in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary. After such hearing, the Secretary shall make a ruling upon the prayer of such petition which shall be final if in accordance with law. (d) The district courts of the United States in any district in which such person is an inhabitant, or carries on business, are hereby vested with jurisdiction to review such ruling, provided a complaint for that purpose is filed within twenty days from the date of the entry of such ruling. Service of process in such proceedings may be had upon the Secretary by delivering to the Secretary 14 7 U.S.C. 4312. 15 7 U.S.C. 4313. a copy of the complaint. If the court determines that such ruling is not in accordance with law, it shall remand such proceedings to the Secretary with directions either (1) to make such ruling as the court shall determine to be in accordance with law, or (2) to take such further proceedings as, in its opinion, the law requires. The pendency of proceedings instituted pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall not impede, hinder, or delay the United States or the Secretary from obtaining relief pursuant to section 1715(a) of this title. ENFORCEMENT SEC. 1715.16 (a) The several district courts of the United States are vested with jurisdiction specifically to enforce, and to prevent and restrain any person from violating, any order or regulation made or issued pursuant to this title. Any civil action authorized to be brought under this subsection shall be referred to the Attorney General for appropriate action: Provided, That nothing in this title shall be construed as requiring the Secretary to refer to the Attorney General violations of this title whenever the Secretary believes that the administration and enforcement of the program would be adequately served by administrative action pursuant to subsection (b) of this section or suitable written notice or warning to any person committing such violations. (b)(1) Any person who violates any provisions of any order or regulation issued by the Secretary pursuant to this title, or who fails or refuses to pay, collect, or remit any assessment or fee duly required thereunder, may be assessed a civil penalty by the Secretary of not less than $500 or more than $5,000 for each such violation. Each violation shall be a separate offense. In addition to or in lieu of such civil penalty the Secretary may issue an order requiring such person to cease and desist from continuing such violation or violations. No penalty may be assessed or cease and desist order issued unless such person is given notice and opportunity for a hearing before the Secretary with respect to such violation. The order of the Secretary assessing a penalty or imposing a cease and desist order shall be final and conclusive unless the affected person files an appeal from the Secretary's order with the appropriate United States court of appeals. (2) Any person against whom a violation is found and a civil penalty assessed or cease and desist order issued under paragraph (1) of this subsection may obtain review in the court of appeals of the United States for the circuit in which such person resides or carries on business or in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit by filing a notice of appeal in such court within thirty days from the date of such order and by simultaneously sending a copy of such notice by certified mail to the Secretary. The Secretary shall promptly file in such court a certified copy of the record upon which such violation was found. The findings of the Secretary shall be set aside only if found to be unsupported by substantial evidence. (3) Any person who fails to obey a cease and desist order after it has become final and unappealable, or after the appropriate court of appeals has entered final judgment in favor of the Secretary, shall be subject to a civil penalty assessed by the Secretary, after opportunity for a hearing and for judicial review pursuant to the procedures specified in paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection, of not more than $500 for each offense, and each day during which such failure continues shall be deemed a separate offense. (4) If any person fails to pay an assessment of a civil penalty after it has become a final and unappealable order, or after the appropriate court of appeals has entered final judgment in favor of the Secretary, the Secretary shall refer the matter to the Attorney General who shall recover the amount assessed in any appropriate district court of the United States. In such action, the validity and appropriateness of the final order imposing the civil penalty shall not be subject to review. CERTIFICATION OF ORGANIZATIONS SEC. 1716.17 The eligibility of any organization to represent producers of flowers and plants of any producing area of the United States or importers of flowers and plants, for purposes of requesting the issuance of an order under section 1705, or making nominations under section 1707(2) of this title, shall be certified by the Secretary. Certification shall be based, in addition to other available information, upon a factual report submitted by the organization which shall contain information deemed relevant and specified by the Secretary for the making of such determination, including, but not limited to, the following: (1) geographic territory covered by the organization's active membership; (2) nature and size of the organization's active membership, the proportion of such active membership accounted for by producers and importers, and information as to the volume of production by State or the volume of importation by country accounted for by the organization's producer and importer members; (3) the extent to which the producer and importer membership of such organization is represented in setting the organization's policies; (4) evidence of stability and permanency of the organization; (5) sources from which the organization's operating funds are derived; (6) functions of the organization; (7) whether the majority of the governing board of the organization is composed of producers and importers; and (8) the organization's ability and willingness to further the aims and objectives of this title. The primary consideration in determining the eligibility of any organization shall be whether its membership consists of a substantial number of producers and importers who produce and import a substantial volume of flowers and plants. The Secretary shall certi 177 U.S.C. 4315. fy any organization which is found to be eligible under this section, and the Secretary's determination as to eligibility shall be final. Whenever more than one organization is certified in any geographic area, such organizations may caucus to determine the area's nominations under section 1707(2) of this title. REGULATIONS SEC. 1717.18 The Secretary may issue such regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this title. INVESTIGATIONS; POWER TO SUBPENA AND TAKE OATHS AND AFFIRMATIONS; AID OF COURTS SEC. 1718.19 The Secretary may make such investigations as are deemed necessary to carry out the Secretary's responsibilities under this title or to determine whether a producer, importer, wholesaler, retailer, or other seller of flowers and plants, or any other person has engaged or is about to engage in any acts or practices which consitute or will constitute a violation of any provisions of this title, or of any order, or rule or regulation issued under this title. For the purpose of such investigation, the Secretary is empowered to administer oaths and affirmations, subpena witnesses, compel their attendance, take evidence, and require the production of any books, papers, and documents which are relevant to the inquiry. Such attendance of witnesses and the production of any such records may be required from any place in the United States. In case of contumacy by, or refusal to obey a subpena to, any person, including a producer of flowers and plants, the Secretary may invoke the aid of any court of the United States within the jurisdiction of which such investigation or proceeding is carried on, or where such person resides or carries on business, in requiring the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of books, papers, and documents; and such court may issue an order requiring such person to appear before the Secretary, there to produce records, if so ordered, or to give testimony touching the matter under investigation. Any failure to obey such order of the court may be punished by such court as a contempt thereof. All processes in any such cases may be served in the judicial district wherein such person is an inhabitant or wherever such person may be found. SEPARABILITY SEC. 1719.20 If any provision of this title or the application thereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid, the validity of the remainder of this title and of the application of such provision to other persons and circumstances shall not be affected thereby. AUTHORIZATION SEC. 1720.21 There are authorized to be appropriated out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated such funds as 18 7 U.S.C. 4316. 19 7 U.S.C. 4317. 20 7 U.S.C. 4318. |