SB 1372 Summary

• Expands the Department of Fish and Wildlife's investigation and study of wildlife corridors to include impacts from state infrastructure projects (transportation and water), large-scale development, and land conversions, in addition to existing climate change analysis.

• Establishes the Wildlife and Biodiversity Protection and Movement Act of 2020, requiring the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency and Secretary of Transportation to coordinate updates to the Significant Natural Areas Program and California Essential Habitat Connectivity Project for incorporation into transportation and water infrastructure planning.

• Creates the Ira Ruskin Wildlife Habitat Connectivity Advance Mitigation Program to generate compensatory mitigation credits for addressing existing wildlife connectivity barriers and offsetting California Environmental Quality Act impacts from future transportation and water projects.

• Requires the Department of Transportation to designate a corridor coordinator in each Caltrans district (Districts 1-12) to lead regional wildlife habitat connectivity programs and coordinate with the Department of Fish and Wildlife.

• Authorizes use of Advance Mitigation Account funds to modify or remove wildlife connectivity barriers not covered by existing regulatory programs and requires inclusion of wildlife corridor connectivity enhancement in programmatic mitigation plans.