The state board shall provide cost-sharing grants for the development of demonstration projects for new rice straw technologies according to criteria developed by the state board, in consultation with the University of California and the Department of Food and Agriculture, and adopted at a noticed public hearing held by the state board. The criteria shall include, but shall not be limited to, all of the following:
(a) Proposed projects shall use a technology that could use significant volumes of rice straw annually if it is commercialized, based upon various factors, including potential markets and viability of the technology in meeting market demands.
(b) The state board shall provide a grant of not more than 50 percent of the cost for each demonstration project.
(c) Public and private support shall be demonstrated for proposed projects, including local community support from the rice growing community where the project would be located.
(d) The grants shall be authorized and allocated during the 2000–01, 2001–02, and 2002–03 fiscal years. Grants may be expended, under the grant agreement, during a period not to exceed three years from the date that the grant is awarded.
(e) Preference shall be given to projects located within the rice growing regions of the Sacramento Valley and which may be replicated throughout the region.
(f) Projects should demonstrate all of the following:
(1) Technical and economic feasibility.
(2) The capability to become profitable within five years.
(3) Cost-effectiveness.
(4) The extent to which the program mitigates or avoids adverse environmental impacts.
(g) This section shall not become operative until moneys are appropriated for deposit in the Rice Straw Demonstration Project Grant Fund, created pursuant to Section 39751, by the Legislature, or until moneys are transferred to that fund by any other entity.
(Amended by Stats. 2004, Ch. 225, Sec. 51. Effective August 16, 2004. Operation of provisions is contingent upon funding, as prescribed in subd. (g).)