BILL NUMBER: SB 1446 INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Senator Correa FEBRUARY 19, 2010 An act to add Section 2081.2 to the Fish and Game Code, relating to endangered and threatened species. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 1446, as introduced, Correa. Endangered and threatened species: incidental take permits. Existing law, the California Endangered Species Act, prohibits the importation, exportation, taking, possession, purchase, or sale of any threatened or endangered species, except in certain situations. The act, with exceptions, authorizes the Department of Fish and Game to authorize the take of threatened species, endangered species, or candidate species by permit if the take is incidental to an otherwise lawful activity, the impacts of the authorized take are minimized and fully mitigated, the permit is consistent with specified regulations, and the applicant ensures adequate funding to implement the minimization and mitigation measures and monitor compliance with, and effectiveness of, those measures. This bill, with respect to the requirement that the applicant ensure adequate funding to implement the minimization and mitigation measures and monitor compliance with those measures, would require that an applicant that is a city, county, or other public agency be deemed to meet that requirement if the city, county, or other public agency complies with specified financial and accounting requirements and certifies that it will annually appropriate sufficient moneys to fund its minimization and mitigation obligations. The bill would require that certification to include specified components. 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 2081.2 is added to the Fish and Game Code, to read: 2081.2. An applicant that is a city, county, or other public agency that does not have a known termination date, and has the authority to levy and collect taxes or fees for the purposes of paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) of Section 2081, shall be deemed to meet the requirements of paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) of Section 2081 if all of the following conditions are met: (a) The city, county, or public agency certifies to the department all of the following: (1) Its financial statements are prepared in compliance with generally accepted accounting principles for government agencies. (2) It has not had a budget deficit of greater than 5 percent in either of the two immediately preceding fiscal years. (3) It is not in default for interest or principal payment on any outstanding general obligation bonds. (4) Its outstanding general obligation bonds are rated by Standard and Poor's Corporation as not lower than BBB or by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. as not lower than Baa. (5) Its financial statements for the most recent fiscal year have not received an adverse opinion, a disclaimer of opinion, or a qualified opinion from an independent certified public accountant. (b) The legislative body of the city, county, or public agency certifies to the department that it will appropriate sufficient moneys through its annual budget process to fund the minimization and mitigation obligations pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 2081, and the costs of monitoring compliance with, and effectiveness of, those measures, and annually appropriates funds necessary to maintain that level of funding. This level of annual funding shall be known as the "maintenance of effort" for purposes of this section. (c) For purposes of subdivision (b), the certification shall include all of the following: (1) The period of time that the maintenance of effort will be in effect. (2) The amount of the funding that will be provided and the manner of its calculation. (3) A provision for termination or modification of the maintenance of effort to respond to materially changed circumstances. (4) A certification that any legal restrictions or limitations that apply to the maintenance of effort do not materially impair the agency's ability to maintain its obligations under this section.