BILL NUMBER: AB 2785	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Ruskin

                        FEBRUARY 22, 2008

   An act to amend Sections 1930 and 1932 of, and to add Sections
1930.5 and 1932.5 to, the Fish and Game Code, relating to fish and
game.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2785, as introduced, Ruskin. Wildlife conservation.
   Existing law requires the Department of Fish and Game to
administer the Significant Natural Areas Program, and requires the
department, among other things, to identify and seek the maintenance
of significant natural areas, as defined, and to maintain, expand,
and keep current a data management system, designated the California
Natural Diversity Data Base.
   This bill would revise the program to require the department,
contingent upon funding, to investigate, study, and identify those
areas in the state that are most essential as wildlife corridors and
habitat linkages and prioritize vegetative data development in those
areas. The bill would require the department to develop and maintain
high-quality spatial data on vegetation and land cover that is
standardized statewide, and to develop and maintain a spatial data
system that identifies those areas in the state that are most
essential for maintaining habitat connectivity, including wildlife
corridors and habitat linkages. The bill would require the department
to make all of the described data sets and associated analytical
products available to the public and other government entities. The
bill would require the department to actively pursue grants and
cost-sharing opportunities with local, state, or federal agencies, or
private entities that use the data sets and benefit from their
creation and maintenance.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 1930 of the Fish and Game Code is amended to
read:
   1930.  The Legislature finds and declares that:
   (a) Areas containing diverse ecological and geological
characteristics are vital to the continual health and well being of
the state's natural resources and of its citizens.
   (b) Many habitats and ecosystems that constitute the state's
natural diversity are in danger of being lost. 
   (c) Connectivity between wildlife habitats is important to the
long-term viability of the state's biodiversity.  
   (d) Increasingly fragmented habitats threaten the state's wildlife
species.  
   (c) 
    (e)    There is insufficient incentive for
private landowners to maintain and perpetuate significant local
natural areas in their natural state. 
   (d) 
    (f)    Efforts to preserve natural areas have
been fragmented between federal, state, local, and private sectors.

   (g) Analysis of the state's habitat connectivity benefits from the
consideration of all relevant data, including information from
private and public landowners.  
   (h) The Department of Fish and Game's existing mapping activities
and products should be developed and sustained. 
  SEC. 2.  Section 1930.5 is added to the Fish and Game Code, to
read:
   1930.5.  (a) Contingent upon funding, the department shall
investigate, study, and identify those areas in the state that are
most essential as wildlife corridors and habitat linkages, as well as
impacts to those corridors from climate change, and shall prioritize
vegetative data development in these areas.
   (b) It is the intent of the Legislature that the Wildlife
Conservation Board use various funds to work with the department to
complete a statewide assessment of habitat corridors and undertake
vegetation and wildlife corridor mapping of high priority lands.
  SEC. 3.  Section 1932 of the Fish and Game Code is amended to read:

   1932.  There is hereby established the Significant Natural Areas
Program which shall be administered by the department. The
department, in administering this program, shall do all of the
following:
   (a) Obtain access to the most recent information with respect to
natural resources. In order to accomplish this, the department shall
maintain, expand, and keep current a data management system,
designated the California Natural Diversity Data Base, designed to
document information on these resources. That data shall be made
available to interested parties on request. 
   (b) Develop and maintain high-quality spatial data on vegetation
and land cover that is standardized statewide with other state
agencies.  
   (c) Develop and maintain a spatial data system that identifies
those areas in the state that are most essential for maintaining
habitat connectivity, including wildlife corridors and habitat
linkages. This data should include information essential for
evaluating the needs of wildlife species, as defined in Section
711.2, that require habitat connectivity for their long-term
conservation, including distribution and movement patterns. 

   (d) As appropriate, develop and maintain the database by
incorporating mapping products and data developed by other state
agencies.  
   (e) Make all of the data sets, and associated analytical products,
available to the public and other government entities. 

   (b) 
    (f)    Ensure cost-sharing by all who use the
data management system and develop an appropriate schedule of
compensation to be paid by individuals using the data management
system, not to exceed the actual costs for use of the data management
system. 
   (c) 
    (g)    Ensure recognition of the state's most
significant natural areas  , including threats from fire and
climate change  . The department shall, after consultation with
federal, state, and local agencies, education institutions, civic and
public interest organizations, private organizations, landowners,
and other private individuals, identify by means of periodic reports
those natural areas deemed to be most significant. 
   (d) 
    (h)    Seek the maintenance and perpetuation of
the state's most significant natural areas for present and future
generations in the most feasible manner. The department shall
consider alternative approaches for that maintenance, including
alternatives to fee acquisition such as incentives, leasing, and
dedication. 
   (e) 
    (i)    Reduce unnecessary duplication of
effort. The department shall provide coordinating services to
federal, state, local, and private interests wishing to aid in the
maintenance and perpetuation of significant natural areas. 
   (j) Actively pursue grants and cost-sharing opportunities with
local, state, or federal agencies, or private entities that use the
data sets and benefit from their creation and maintenance. 
  SEC. 4.  Section 1932.5 is added to the Fish and Game Code, to
read:
   1932.5.  (a) In carrying out its responsibilities pursuant to this
chapter, the department shall solicit and utilize all relevant
results of existing studies and information from local government,
state, and federal agencies, academic institutions, nonprofit
organizations, certified environmental documents, private and public
landowners, and agricultural and rangeland information developed by
the Department of Conservation and agriculture associations.
   (b) The department shall seek input from representatives of other
state agencies, local government, federal agencies, nongovernmental
conservation organizations, landowners, agriculture, recreation,
scientific entities, and industry in determining essential wildlife
corridors and habitat linkages. Private and public landowners shall
be given a reasonable opportunity to review and comment on the
wildlife characteristics of their land if it is identified pursuant
to this chapter. The department shall utilize all relevant
information when developing data sets and associated analytical
products pursuant to this chapter.
   (c) This chapter does not require, mandate, or authorize, under
state or federal law, any state or local planning, zoning, or other
land use action or decision.
   (d) This chapter does not alter any legal rights and privileges,
under state or federal law, of ownership or use of privately or
publicly owned property.
   (e) The Legislature finds and declares that the data sets and
associated analytical products required pursuant to this chapter are
for inventory and planning purposes and may not be suitable to
support regulatory actions without additional specificity or
information.