California Rice Commission: purpose.

Existing law creates the California Rice Commission with a prescribed membership and authorizes the commission, among other things, to promote the sale of rice, educate and instruct the wholesale and retail trade with respect to proper methods of handling and selling rice, and conduct scientific research. Existing law declares the California Rice Commission to be necessary for, among other things, carrying out the California rice industry's commitment to responsible stewardship and increasingly efficient cultural practices. This bill would additionally declare the commission to be necessary for maintaining a sufficient footprint of annual rice acreage to support the wildlife habitat objectives of the state.