PUBLIC LAW 106-469—NOV. 9, 2000 114 STAT. 2049 (3) ADVISORY COMMITTEES.— The Alliance may establish advisory committees consisting of persons other than Alliance members. (4) VOTING. —Each member of the Alliance shall have one vote in matters before the Alliance. (d) ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES. — (1) IN GENERAL. —The administrative expenses of operating the Alliance (not including costs incurred in the collection of assessments under section 707) plus amounts paid under paragraph (2) shall not exceed 7 percent of the amount of assessments collected in any calendar year, except that during the first year of operation of the Alliance such expenses and amounts shall not exceed 10 percent of the amount of assessments. (2) REIMBURSEMENT OF THE SECRETARY. — (A) IN GENERAL.— The Alliance shall annually reimburse the Secretary for costs incurred by the Federal Government relating to the Alliance. (B) LIMITATION. —Reimbursement under subparagraph (A) for any calendar year shall not exceed the amount that the Secretary determines is twice the average annual salary of one employee of the Department of Energy. (e) BUDGET.— (1) PUBLICATION OF PROPOSED BUDGET. —Before August 1 of each year, the Alliance shall publish for public review and comment a proposed budget for the next calendar year, including the probable costs of all programs, projects, and contracts and other agreements. (2) SUBMISSION TO THE SECRETARY AND CONGRESS.—After review and comment under paragraph (1), the Alliance shall submit the proposed budget to the Secretary and Congress. (3) RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE SECRETARY. —The Secretary may recommend for inclusion in the budget programs and activities that the Secretary considers appropriate. (4) IMPLEMENTATION.— The Alliance shall not implement a proposed budget until the expiration of 60 days after submitting the proposed budget to the Secretary. (f) RECORDS; AUDITS.— (1) RECORDS. — The Alliance shall— (A) keep records that clearly reflect all of the acts and transactions of the Alliance; and (B) make the records available to the public. Public (2) AUDITS. — information. (A) IN GENERAL.—The records of the Alliance (including fee assessment reports and applications for refunds under section 707(b)(4)) shall be audited by a certified public accountant at least once each year and at such other times as the Alliance may designate. (B) AVAILABILITY OF AUDIT REPORTS.— Copies of each audit report shall be provided to the Secretary, the members of the Alli£ince, and the qualified industry organization, and, on request, to other members of the oilheat industry. (C) POLICIES AND PROCEDURES. — (i) IN GENERAL.—The Alliance shall establish policies and procedures for auditing compliance with this title.
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