Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 116 Part 1.djvu/549

 PUBLIC LAW 107-171—MAY 13, 2002 116 STAT. 523 "(II) LOCAL ADMINISTRATIVE AREAS. —The Secretary may designate local administrative areas within a county or a larger area under the jurisdiction of a committee established under subclause (I). " (ii) COMPOSITION OF COUNTY, AREA, OR LOCAL COMMITTEES. —^A committee established under clause (i) shall consist of not fewer than 3 nor more than 5 members that— "(I) are fairly representative of the agricultural producers within the area covered by the county, area, or local committee; and "(II) are elected by the agricultural producers that participate or cooperate in programs administered within the area under the jurisdiction of the county, area, or local committee. "(iii) ELECTIONS. — " (I) IN GENERAL.— Subject to subclauses (II) through (V), the Secretary shall establish procedures for nominations and elections to county, area, or local committees. " (II) NONDISCRIMINATION STATEMENT. —Each solicitation of nominations for, and notice of elections of, a county, area, or local committee shall include the nondiscrimination statement used by the Secretary. "(Ill) NOMINATIONS.— " (aa) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible for nomination and election to the applicable county, area, or local committee, as determined by the Secretary, an agricultural producer shall be located within the area under the jurisdiction of a county, area, or local committee, and participate or cooperate in programs administered within that area. "(bb) OUTREACH.— In addition to such nominating procedures as the Secretary may prescribe, the Secretary shall solicit and accept nominations from organizations representing the interests of socially disadvantaged groups (as defined in section 355(e)(1) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2003(e)(1)). " (IV) OPENING OF BALLOTS. — "(aa) PUBLIC NOTICE.— At least 10 days before the date on which ballots are to be opened and counted, a county, area, or local committee shall announce the date, time, and place at which election ballots will be opened and counted. "(bb) OPENING OF BALLOTS.—Election ballots shall not be opened until the date and time announced under item (aa). "(cc) OBSERVATION.— Any person may observe the opening and counting of the election ballots.

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