The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a) There is an urgent need for low-cost, energy-efficient housing in California.
(b) The cost of conventional lumber-framed housing has risen due to a shortage of construction-grade lumber.
(c) Straw is an annually renewable source of cellulose that can be used as an energy-efficient substitute for stud-framed wall construction.
(d) The state has mandated that the burning of rice straw be greatly reduced.
(e) As a result of the mandated burning reduction, growers are experimenting with alternative straw management practices. Various methods of straw incorporation into the soil are the most widely used alternatives. The two most common methods are nonflood incorporation and winter flood incorporation. Economically viable off-farm uses for rice straw are not yet available.
(f) Winter flooding of rice fields encourages the natural decomposition of rice straw and provides valuable waterfowl habitat. According to the Central Valley Habitat Joint Venture component of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, in California’s Central Valley, over 400,000 acres of enhanced agricultural lands are needed to restore the depleted migratory waterfowl populations of the Pacific flyway. Flooded rice fields are a key and integral part of the successful restoration of historic waterfowl and shorebird populations.
(g) Winter flooding of rice fields provides significant waterfowl habitat benefits and should be especially encouraged in areas where there is minimal potential to impact salmon as a result of surface water diversions.
(h) An economically viable market for rice straw bales could result from the use of rice straw bales in housing construction.
(i) Practicing architects and engineers have determined that the statutory guidelines established by Chapter 941 of the Statutes of 1995 contain specific requirements that they believe are either unnecessary or detrimental. Some of the requirements are considered costly and severely restrict the development of straw-bale housing.
(j) Statutory guidelines for the use of straw-bale housing would significantly benefit energy conservation, natural resources, low-cost housing, agriculture, and fisheries in California.
(k) Tests and experience with straw-bale construction demonstrate that it is a strong, durable, and thermally superior building system that deserves a larger role in modern construction.
(Amended by Stats. 2002, Ch. 31, Sec. 1. Effective April 26, 2002. Inoperative on date prescribed in Section 18944.41.)