Endangered species: candidate species: petitions: takings.

The California Endangered Species Act requires the Fish and Game Commission to establish a list of endangered species and a list of threatened species and to add a species to, or remove a species from, either list if it finds, upon the receipt of sufficient scientific information, and based solely upon the best available scientific information, that the action is warranted. The act requires a petition for the listing or delisting of a species to include, at a minimum, sufficient scientific information that the petitioned action may be warranted, including information regarding the population trend, range, distribution, abundance, and life history of the species, the factors affecting the ability of the population to survive and reproduce, and the degree and immediacy of the threat. The act requires the commission to accept a petition for consideration if the commission finds that the petition provides sufficient information to indicate that the petitioned action may be warranted. If a petition accepted for consideration proposes to add a species to either list, the act requires the commission to publish a notice that the species is a candidate species. The act establishes procedures and timelines for the review of an accepted petition for a candidate species. Under the act, the commission may authorize the taking of any candidate species, subject to terms and conditions it prescribes and based on the best available scientific information, if the take is consistent with the act. This bill would require the commission to accept a petition for consideration concurrent with a taking if the commission finds that the petition provides sufficient information to indicate that the petitioned action may be warranted, but the geographic proliferation of the species may lead to significant economic hardship or an impact on critical infrastructure during the above-described review of an accepted petition, and if a preponderance of the evidence presented in the petition shows there is no direct threat to the species that would lead to its decline during that period. The bill would also make conforming changes. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.