SECTIONS 71000-71010 - California Statutes

FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL CODE

SECTION 71000-71010

71000. The production, milling and marketing of rice constitutes an
important industry of this state that provides substantial and
necessary revenues for the state and employment for its citizens.

71001. The maintenance of the rice industry of California is
necessary to assure the public of a continuous supply of this vital
product and the maintenance of needed levels of income for those
engaged in the rice industry.

71002. The production and milling of rice in California has the
potential to be one of the leading segments of the state's
agricultural industry. To realize this potential, there is a need to
make consumers aware of the nutritional value of rice, the high
quality of the rice produced and milled in the state, the intricacies
of rice culture, and the versatility of rice as part of a
well-balanced diet. The activities made possible by the establishment
of the commission will meet this need and further the interests of
the industry and the state.

71003. The establishment of the commission is necessary for the
efficient development and management of a national and international
advertising and promotion program that will enhance the reputation of
the California rice industry, create a more receptive environment
for the industry and its products, and increase competitiveness of
the California rice industry within the national and international
marketplace. In addition, the commission is necessary to carry out
the California rice industry's commitment to responsible stewardship
and increasingly efficient cultural practices.

71004. The successes that the rice industry of California has
enjoyed have come in part through a commitment to industry funded
research that has led to significant improvements in the quality of
the rice available to consumers and increasingly efficient cultural
practices resulting in increased awareness of, and a more receptive
environment for, the production and milling of rice in California. It
has also led to rice being a better consumer value. The
establishment of the commission will continue and enhance this
research effort and move the rice industry toward its potential,
resulting in increased consumer value and enhanced grower returns.

71005. The production and milling of rice in this state is hereby
declared to be affected with a public interest. This chapter is
enacted in the exercise of the police power of this state for the
purposes of protecting the health, peace, safety, and general welfare
of the people of this state.

71006. No action taken by the commission, or by any individual in
accordance with this chapter or with the regulations adopted under
this chapter, is a violation of the so-called Cartwright Act (Chapter
2 (commencing with Section 16700) of Part 2 of Division 7 of the
Business and Professions Code), the Unfair Practices Act (Chapter 4
(commencing with Section 17000) of Part 2 of Division 7 of the
Business and Professions Code), or any statutory or common law
against monopolies or combinations in restraint of trade. The
Legislature intends this program to be among those contemplated by
Congress in the enactment of Section 610(i) of Title 7 of the United
States Code.

71007. This chapter shall be liberally construed. If any provision
of this chapter or the application thereof to any person or
circumstances is held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect other
provisions or applications of the chapter that can be given effect
without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the
provisions of this chapter are severable.

71008. It is hereby declared as a matter of legislative
determination that commission members and alternates are intended to
represent and further the interest of a particular industry concerned
and that this representation and furtherance is intended to serve
the public interest. Accordingly, the Legislature finds that with
respect to persons who are elected or appointed to the commission,
the particular industry concerned is tantamount to and constitutes
the public generally within the meaning of Section 87103 of the
Government Code.

71009. Opportunity exists for continued growth and expansion of the
rice industry by creating new markets. The success of such an
expansion program is uniquely dependent upon effective advertising,
promotion, and research, since the creation of new markets is
essentially a matter of educating and informing people of the use,
nutritional value, and availability of the commodity and enhancing
the reputation of the California rice industry. The expansion of the
rice industry also provides an important source of jobs for many
people in this state, a high proportion of whom reside in
historically depressed areas of the state, and serves to ensure the
preservation of an agrarian society.

71010. The commission form of administration created by this
chapter is uniquely situated to provide those engaged in the
production and milling of rice the opportunity to avail themselves of
the benefits of collective action of the broad fields of
development, maintenance, and expansion of markets, marketing
research, education, advertising and promotion, and production and
processing research necessary to achieve the purposes stated herein,
and any activity authorized in Chapter 4 (commencing with Section
55000) of Division 20.