§6404 Propane Education and Research Council

Summary

Create a 21-member Propane Education and Research Council to plan and run programs about propane safety, research, training, consumer education, and related projects. Industry groups pick the members: producer groups choose producers, retail marketer groups choose retail marketers, and all the qualified industry groups pick the 3 public members together. If a member leaves early, the same picking process fills the vacancy. The Council must include 9 retail marketers, 9 producers, and 3 public members. Members (except the public ones) must be full-time company employees, owners, or agricultural cooperative representatives. People who work for a qualified industry group or trade association may not serve, and no one may serve for the same company or its affiliate at the same time. Only public members can ask to be paid back for reasonable meeting costs; other members get no pay or expense reimbursement. Members serve three-year terms and may serve no more than two full back-to-back terms. Someone filling an unfinished term may serve up to 7 years in a row. Former members can return after two years away. The Council picks its own chair and officers, makes committees and rules, asks industry for input on big plans, and may set up outside advisory committees. At least 5 percent of collected funds must go to programs that help agriculture. Money for using propane as a road vehicle fuel cannot be more than the share of odorized propane that historically (over the prior 3 years) is used as motor fuel. Administrative costs may not exceed 10 percent of funds each year. The Council must publish a budget plan for public comment before August 1, send it to the Secretary and Congress, keep public records, have yearly audits, give meeting notices at least 30 days in advance, make minutes available, and issue an annual public report of past and planned programs and how money was spent.