Fish and wildlife: working group: catastrophic wildfires: reports.

Existing law establishes the Department of Fish and Wildlife, which is administered through the Director of Fish and Wildlife, and prescribes the functions and responsibilities of the department with regard to the implementation, administration, and enforcement of laws regulating fish and wildlife in the state. Existing law also establishes the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, which is under the control of the Director of Forestry and Fire Protection, and requires the department to implement and administer various fire prevention and suppression programs on lands under the jurisdiction of the department. This bill would require the Director of Fish and Wildlife to establish a working group, composed of the director or the director's representative, the Director of Forestry and Fire Protection or their representative, and a county government representative from each county impacted by any catastrophic wildfire being studied by the workgroup, as described below. The bill would require the working group to study, investigate, and report, on or before December 31, 2022, and by December 31 each year thereafter, to the Legislature on the impacts on wildlife and wildlife habitat resulting from any catastrophic wildfire, as defined, that occurred during that calendar year, including specified information on a catastrophic wildfire's impact on ecosystems, biodiversity, and protected species in the state, and would require, to the extent feasible, the department to obtain and keep current baseline data suitable for interpreting that impact. By requiring county government representatives to participate in the working group, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.