Endangered species: locally designed voluntary programs.

Existing law requires the Department of Fish and Game, in cooperation with the Department of Food and Agriculture and specified persons, to adopt regulations that authorize locally designed voluntary programs for routine and ongoing agricultural activities on farms or ranches that encourage habitat for candidate, threatened, and endangered species, and wildlife generally. Existing law requires these authorized programs to, among other things, be supported by the best available scientific information for both agricultural and conservation practices. Existing law requires the department to, every 5 years, post a report regarding the effect of these programs on the department's internet website. Existing law authorizes the department to approve an application submitted by certain nonprofit organizations to initiate and undertake public education and outreach activities promoting specified objectives and requires a participating organization to file an annual report with the department containing certain information, including, among other things, information on a farm or ranch that has expressed interest in participating in a voluntary program, as provided. This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to the above-described provision.