# § 8705. Assessments
**(a)** **Assessments** The order shall provide that assessments shall be paid by a manufacturer if the manufacturer has manufactured concrete masonry products during a period of at least 180 days prior to the date the assessment is to be remitted.
**(b)** **Collection**
**(1)** **In general** Assessments required under the order shall be remitted by the manufacturer to the Board in the manner prescribed by the order.
**(2)** **Timing** The order shall provide that assessments required under the order shall be remitted to the Board not less frequently than quarterly.
**(3)** **Records** As part of the remittance of assessments, manufacturers shall identify the total amount due in assessments on all sales receipts, invoices or other commercial documents of sale as a result of the sale of concrete masonry units in a manner as prescribed by the Board to ensure compliance with the order.
**(c)** **Assessment rates** With respect to assessment rates, the order shall contain the following terms:
**(1)** **Initial rate** The assessment rate on concrete masonry products shall be $0.01 per concrete masonry unit sold.
**(2)** **Changes in the rate**
**(A)** **Authority to change rate** The Board shall have the authority to change the assessment rate. A two-thirds majority of voting members of the Board shall be required to approve a change in the assessment rate.
**(B)** **Limitation on increases** An increase or decrease in the assessment rate with respect to concrete masonry products may not exceed $0.01 per concrete masonry unit sold.
**(C)** **Maximum rate** The assessment rate shall not be in excess of $0.05 per concrete masonry unit.
**(D)** **Limitation on frequency of changes** The assessment rate may not be increased or decreased more than once annually.
**(d)** **Late-payment and interest charges**
**(1)** **In general** Late-payment and interest charges may be levied on each person subject to the order who fails to remit an assessment in accordance with subsection (b).
**(2)** **Rate** The rate for late-payment and interest charges shall be specified by the Secretary.
**(e)** **Investment of assessments** Pending disbursement of assessments under a budget approved by the Secretary, the Board may invest assessments collected under this section in—
**(1)** obligations of the United States or any agency of the United States;
**(2)** general obligations of any State or any political subdivision of a State;
**(3)** interest-bearing accounts or certificates of deposit of financial institutions that are members of the Federal Reserve System; or
**(4)** obligations fully guaranteed as to principal and interest by the United States.
**(f)** **Assessment funds for regional initiatives**
**(1)** **In general** The order shall provide that not less than 50 percent of the assessments (less administration expenses) paid by a manufacturer shall be used to support research, education, and promotion programs and projects in support of the geographic region of the manufacturer.
**(2)** **Geographic regions** The order shall provide for the following geographic regions:
**(A)** Region I shall comprise Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and West Virginia.
**(B)** Region II shall comprise Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.
**(C)** Region III shall comprise Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
**(D)** Region IV shall comprise Arizona, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.
**(E)** Region V shall comprise Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
**(3)** **Adjustment of geographic regions** The order shall provide that the Secretary may, upon recommendation of the Board, modify the composition of the geographic regions described in paragraph (2).
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**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 115–254, div. E, § 1306, Oct. 5, 2018, 132 Stat. 3478.)