on any person who fails to remit, collect, or pay to the
Council any amount due under this Act.
(d) INVESTMENT OF FUNDS.—Pending disbursement
pursuant to a program, plan, or project, the Council may
invest funds collected through assessments, and any other
funds received by the Council, only in obligations of the
United States or any agency thereof, in general obligations
of any State or any political subdivision thereof, in any
interest-bearing account or certificate of deposit of a bank
that is a member of the Federal Reserve System, or in
obligations fully guaranteed as to principal and interest
by the United States.
(e) STATE PROGRAMS.—After consultation with the
Council, the Secretary may by regulation establish a pro-
gram coordinating the operation of the Council with those
of any State propane education and research council or
similar entity created by State law. This may include a
joint or coordinated assessment collection process, a re-
duced assessment, or an assessment rebate. If adopted,
the reduction in assessment or rebate may be in an
amount not to exceed 20 percent of the regular assessment
collected in that State under this section. Assessment re-
bates shall be paid only to a State propane education and
research council or similar entity that meets the require-
ments established by the Council, and only for specific
projects approved by the Council.
SEC. 7. ENFORCEMENT.
(a) CEASE
AND
DESIST
ORDERS; CIVIL
PEN-
ALTIES.—The Secretary, after providing notice and an op-
portunity for hearing, may, with respect to any person who
violates any provision of this Act or any plan, regulation,
or order issued under this Act—
(1) issue an order requiring that person to
cease and desist from continuing such violation; and
(2) assess a civil penalty not to exceed $5,000
for each such violation.
Each day during which a violation continues shall be con-
sidered a separate violation.
(b) INVESTIGATORY POWERS.—In order to carry out
this Act, the Secretary may administer oaths and affirma-
tions, subpoena 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. The district courts of the United States may pun-
ish a failure to comply with a subpoena issued under this
subsection as a contempt of the court.
SEC. 8. LOBBYING RESTRICTIONS.
No funds collected by the Council shall be used in
any manner for influencing legislation or elections, except
that the Council may recommend to the Secretary changes
in this Act or other statutes that would further the pur-
poses of this Act.
SEC. 9. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.
Nothing in this Act may be construed to preempt or
supersede any other program relating to propane edu-
cation and research organized and operated under the laws
of the United States or any State.
SEC. 10. ISSUANCE OF REGULATIONS.
Within 9 months after the date of enactment of this
Act, the Secretary shall issue regulations for the imple-
mentation of this Act. The Secretary may require such
reports or documentation as is necessary to document the
referendum process and the nomination process for mem-
bers of the Council and shall protect the confidentiality
of all such documentation provided by industry members.
Æ