77501-77507

FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL CODE
SECTION 77501-77507




77501.  The production and marketing of forest products constitute
an important industry of this state; the industry provides
substantial and necessary revenues for the state and employment for
its citizens.


77502.  The maintenance of the forest products industry of
California is necessary to ensure the public of a continuous supply
of forest products and the maintenance of needed levels of income for
those persons engaged in the industry.


77503.  The production and marketing of forest products produced 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 purpose of protecting the health, peace, safety, and
general welfare of the people of this state.


77504.  No action taken by the commission, or by any individual in
accordance with this chapter or with the rules and regulations
adopted pursuant to 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 that Part
2), or any statutory or common law against monopolies or
combinations in restraint of trade.



77505.  This chapter shall be liberally construed. If any provision
of this chapter or the application thereof to any person or
circumstances is held to be invalid, the invalidity shall not affect
other provisions or applications of the chapter which can be given
effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end
the provisions of this chapter are severable.



77506.  It is hereby declared as a matter of legislative
determination that members of the commission 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.


77506.5.  The forest products industry in this state is expanding.
The success and expansion of the industry is uniquely dependent upon
effective promotion, public information and education, and research
because the creation of new markets is essentially a matter of
educating and informing people regarding a previously underrecognized
industry. The forest products 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.



77507.  The commission form of administration created by this
chapter is uniquely situated to provide those engaged in the
production of forest products the opportunity to avail themselves of
the benefits of collective action in the broad fields of generic
product promotion of forest products, public information and
education, and research necessary to achieve the purposes stated
herein.