(a)
This chapter does not apply to handlers of less than 100,000 hundredweight in any marketing season or to rice produced only for a producer’s home use or rice that is used only for ornamental purposes.
(b)
If at any time during a marketing season the volume handled by a handler reaches 100,000 hundredweight or more, the handler shall be assessed for the initial 100,000 hundredweight and any additional volume handled during the marketing season. If the assessments on the initial 100,000 hundredweight are paid in the time and manner specified by the commission, the assessments shall not be considered past due.
(c)
Notwithstanding Section 71026, the 100,000 hundredweight threshold established pursuant to this chapter shall remain in effect unless a higher threshold is approved by a majority of the commission and by those handlers remaining eligible under the proposed threshold and producers pursuant to procedures specified in Section 71101.