SB 473 Summary

• Applies take prohibitions to public agencies and requires the Department of Fish and Wildlife to post new incidental take permits on its website within 15 days of the effective date, commencing January 1, 2019.

• Requires a permit application fee when persons obtain federal incidental take statements or permits and clarifies that fees apply to amendment requests, renewal requests, and consistency determinations; modifies "project cost" definition to exclude permit, license, and mitigation expenses.

• Repeals exemption for surface mining operations from criminal prosecution for incidental take of threatened or endangered plant species.

• Requires Fish and Game Commission findings on species listing or delisting to be based solely on best available scientific information; permits commission to list species at different status than petitioner requested; allows department to recommend species take authorizations to commission.

• Authorizes department to develop nonregulatory recovery plans for listed species prioritizing those affected by land use changes, climate change, or aquatic condition changes; extends Safe Harbor Agreement Program to benefit declining or vulnerable species; repeals provisions regarding Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan mitigation and Renewable Energy Resources Development Fee Trust Fund.