CA AB454

Commission may issue a drought declaration before each marketing season if it determines drought conditions had detrimental impact on rice production and handling.

Drought declaration expands eligibility for commission board membership to include persons who received prevented planting program indemnity payments in the current year or any of the four preceding years.

Handler eligibility is expanded to include persons who met handler requirements in the current year or any of the four preceding years if a drought declaration is issued.

Acreage calculations for board seat allocation include both planted acres and prevented planted acres when a drought declaration is in effect.

Persons eligible to serve under expanded drought provisions are also eligible to vote in the mandatory five-year referendum on whether to continue commission operations.