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<ns0:Id>20250AB__180899INT</ns0:Id>
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<ns0:ActionText>INTRODUCED</ns0:ActionText>
<ns0:ActionDate>2026-02-10</ns0:ActionDate>
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<ns0:SessionYear>2025</ns0:SessionYear>
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<ns0:AuthorText authorType="LEAD_AUTHOR">Introduced by Assembly Member Carrillo</ns0:AuthorText>
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<ns0:Legislator>
<ns0:Contribution>LEAD_AUTHOR</ns0:Contribution>
<ns0:House>ASSEMBLY</ns0:House>
<ns0:Name>Carrillo</ns0:Name>
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<ns0:Title> An act to amend Section 1927.3 of, and to add Section 1927.3.5 to, the Fish and Game Code, relating to the western Joshua tree.</ns0:Title>
<ns0:RelatingClause>the western Joshua tree</ns0:RelatingClause>
<ns0:GeneralSubject>
<ns0:Subject>Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act: industrial projects and commercial projects: single-family residences: public works projects.</ns0:Subject>
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<html:p>Existing law, the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act, prohibits any person or public agency from importing into the state, exporting out of the state, or taking, possessing, purchasing, or selling within the state, a western Joshua tree or any part or product of the tree, except as provided. Under existing law, the Department of Fish and Wildlife may authorize, by permit, the taking of a western Joshua tree if certain conditions are met, including, among other conditions, that the permittee mitigates all impacts to, and the taking of, the western Joshua tree. Existing law authorizes the department to enter into an agreement with any county or city to delegate to the county or city the ability to authorize the taking of a western Joshua tree associated with developing single-family residences, multifamily residences, accessory structures, and public works projects concurrent with its
approval of the project if certain conditions are met. Existing law authorizes any person or public agency receiving a take authorization for a project to pay specified fees in lieu of satisfying the mitigation obligation on several bases, including if the project receives a permit issued by a county or city.</html:p>
<html:p>This bill would additionally authorize the department to enter into an agreement with any city to delegate to the city the ability to authorize the taking of western Joshua trees associated with developing commercial and industrial projects.</html:p>
<html:p>This bill would authorize the department to authorize, by permit, without payment of fees or other mitigation, (1) the removal by an owner of an existing single-family residence of a western Joshua tree that is within 30 feet of the single-family residence or 15 feet of an existing accessory structure, or within the construction footprint, or 15 feet of the construction footprint,
of a new accessory structure that is proposed to be constructed for the single-family residence or (2) the removal by a developer of a public works project of a western Joshua tree that is within the construction footprint, or 15 feet of the construction footprint, of the public works project. The bill would require a property owner or public works project developer seeking a permit to submit a request to the department that includes specified information. The bill would require, within 60 days of receipt of a request for a permit, the department to either notify the property owner or public works project developer that the department will issue the permit or to deny the request if it does not meet the above-described requirements.</html:p>
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<ns0:Preamble>The people of the State of California do enact as follows:</ns0:Preamble>
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<ns0:Num>SECTION 1.</ns0:Num>
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Section 1927.3 of the
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is amended to read:
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<ns0:Num>1927.3.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The department may authorize, by permit, the taking of a western Joshua tree if all of the following conditions are met:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The permittee submits to the department for its approval a census of all western Joshua trees on the project site, including size information and photographs, that categorize the western Joshua trees according to the following size classes:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(A)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Less than one meter in height.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(B)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
One meter or greater but less than five meters in height.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(C)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Five meters or greater in height.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The
permittee avoids and minimizes impacts to, and the taking of, the western Joshua tree to the maximum extent practicable. Minimization may include trimming, encroachment on root systems, relocation, or other actions that result in detrimental but nonlethal impacts to a western Joshua tree.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The permittee mitigates all impacts to, and taking of, the western Joshua tree. The measures required to meet this obligation shall be roughly proportional in extent to the impact of the authorized taking of the species. When various measures are available to meet this obligation, the measures required shall maintain the permittee’s objectives to the greatest extent possible. All required measures shall be capable of successful implementation. The permittee shall ensure adequate funding to implement the mitigation measures. In lieu of completing the mitigation obligation on its own, the permittee may elect to satisfy this mitigation obligation by paying
fees, pursuant to the fee schedule in subdivision (d) or (e), for deposit into the fund.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(4)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
(A)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The department may include permit conditions that require the permittee to relocate one or more of the western Joshua trees. If relocation is required, the permittee shall implement measures to assist the survival of relocated trees, and to comply with any other reasonable measures required by the department to facilitate the successful relocation and survival of the western Joshua trees. These relocation measures shall include, but are not limited to, all of the following:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(i)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A requirement that the relocated western Joshua tree is placed in a location and with proper orientation to improve its survival.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(ii)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A requirement that western Joshua trees are relocated at a time that maximizes their
survival when feasible.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(iii)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A requirement that a desert native plant specialist be onsite to oversee relocation.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(B)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The department may limit relocation to certain size classes of trees.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(C)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
By July 1, 2024, the department shall adopt guidelines and relocation protocols, based on the best available science, to relocate western Joshua trees successfully. The department shall consult with desert native plant specialists as part of the development of these guidelines and relocation protocols. Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code shall not apply to the development, adoption, or amendment of guidelines and relocation protocols pursuant to this subparagraph.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
For purposes of this section,
each western Joshua tree stem or trunk arising from the ground shall be considered an individual tree requiring mitigation, regardless of its proximity to any other western Joshua tree stem or trunk.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(c)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
If all of the conditions of paragraph (3) are met, the department may enter into an agreement with any county to delegate to the county the ability to authorize the taking of a western Joshua tree associated with developing
any one or more of the following projects concurrent with
the county’s approval of the project:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(A)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Single-family residences.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(B)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Multifamily residences.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(C)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Accessory structures.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(D)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Public works projects.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
If all of the conditions of paragraph (3) are met, the department may enter into an agreement with any city to delegate to the city the ability to authorize the taking of a
western Joshua tree associated with developing any one or more of the following projects concurrent with the city’s approval of the project:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(A)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Single-family residences.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(B)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Multifamily residences.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(C)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Accessory structures.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(D)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Public works projects.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(E)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Commercial projects.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(F)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Industrial projects.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The delegation of authority pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) shall be subject to all of the following conditions:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(A)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The county or city adopts an ordinance that requires as a condition of any approval or permit issued under the authority of an agreement entered into pursuant to this subdivision satisfaction of the requirements of this chapter.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(B)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Except as provided otherwise in this subdivision, the county or city ensures that the permittee satisfies all of the requirements of subdivision (a) of this section.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(C)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The project will take no more than 10 individual western Joshua trees on the project site where the project proponent proposes to construct a single-family residence, multifamily residence, accessory structure, commercial project, or industrial project, or no more than 40 individual western Joshua trees on the project site on which a public agency proposes to undertake a public works project. Before authorizing the take of more than 20, but no more than 40, individual western Joshua trees for a public works project, the county or city shall obtain the department’s written concurrence that the project has avoided and minimized the take of western
Joshua trees to the maximum extent practicable.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(D)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The county or city shall collect any fees for permits issued and remit them quarterly to the fund as directed by the department.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(E)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The county or city entering into an agreement pursuant to this subdivision may impose a reasonable fee to cover the administrative costs of issuing
the permit.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(F)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
(i)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The department retains express authority to suspend or revoke the county or city’s take authorization in the event the department determines the county or city has violated the terms of the agreement, or this chapter, the county or city fails to implement or enforce the terms of the agreement or this chapter, or the department determines that the local
population of western Joshua trees within, or in the vicinity of, that county or city needs further protection. The county or city shall conduct an annual assessment of the status of the local population within the county or city and submit the assessment to the department. The department shall determine if the population needs further protection to provide for the conservation of the species.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(ii)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The department shall adopt standardized survey and assessment methods for the annual assessment required pursuant to
clause (i) including requiring that a desert native plant specialist conduct the assessment. Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code shall not apply to the development, adoption, or amendment of standardized survey and assessment methods pursuant to this subparagraph.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(G)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The county or city shall be required to submit to the department quarterly reports documenting the number of permits issued, photographs and other evidence demonstrating that take and other impacts were avoided and minimized to the maximum extent practicable, the number and size class of western Joshua
trees authorized to be taken, the number of western Joshua trees encroached upon, the number of western Joshua trees lethally removed, the number and location of western Joshua trees relocated, the amount of fees collected, and other information required by the department in the agreement.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(d)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Any person or public agency receiving a take authorization pursuant to this chapter for a project that meets the criteria set forth in paragraph (1) may elect, in lieu of satisfying the mitigation obligation provided for in paragraph (3) of subdivision (a), to pay fees in the amounts provided in paragraph (2) for deposit into the fund.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
(A)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Any project in the area bounded by the intersection of Highway 99 and Highway 58, then east along Highway 58 to the intersection of Interstate 15, then north along Interstate 15 to the intersection of Highway 247, then south along
Highway 247 to the intersection of Highway 18, then west along Highway 18 to the intersection of Highway 138, then west and north along Highway 138 to the intersection of Interstate 5, then north along Interstate 5 to the intersection of Highway 99, then north along Highway 99 to Highway 58.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(B)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Any project receiving a permit issued by a county or city pursuant to an agreement with the department pursuant to subdivision (c), regardless of location.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
(A)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
One thousand dollars ($1,000) for each western Joshua tree five meters or greater in height.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(B)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Two hundred dollars ($200) for each western Joshua tree one meter or greater but less than five meters in height.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(C)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
One hundred fifty dollars ($150) for each western Joshua tree
less than one meter in height.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(e)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Any person or public agency receiving a take authorization pursuant to this chapter for a project that meets the criteria set forth in paragraph (1) may elect, in lieu of satisfying the mitigation obligation provided for in paragraph (3) of subdivision (a), to pay fees in the amounts provided in paragraph (2) for deposit into the fund.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
(A)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of subdivision (d), any project within two miles of Joshua Tree National Park, or any unit of the state park system.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(B)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Any project that does not meet the criteria set forth in paragraph (1) of subdivision (d).
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
(A)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500) for each western Joshua tree five meters or
greater in height.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(B)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Five hundred dollars ($500) for each western Joshua tree one meter or greater but less than five meters in height.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(C)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Three hundred forty dollars ($340) for each western Joshua tree less than one meter in height.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(f)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Upon request, the department may authorize a reduction in the amount of the fees prescribed by subdivisions (d) and (e) for any western Joshua tree conserved by a project proponent through the acquisition of compensatory habitat mitigation land otherwise required by law for the project.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(g)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The permittee shall bear responsibility for implementing measures to assist the survival of western Joshua trees relocated pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (a).
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Unless specifically required by written agreement, a landowner that agrees in writing to allow western Joshua trees to be relocated onto land it owns shall not be liable for the continued survival of the western Joshua trees, shall not be required to manage or maintain the translocated western Joshua trees, and shall not be required to change existing land use practices, provided that the land use practices do not result in the taking, possession, sale, or further translocation of the western Joshua trees.
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<ns0:Num>SEC. 2.</ns0:Num>
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Section 1927.3.5 is added to the
<ns0:DocName>Fish and Game Code</ns0:DocName>
, to read:
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<ns0:Num>1927.3.5.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Notwithstanding Section 1927.3, the department may authorize, by permit, without payment of fees or other mitigation, both of the following:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The removal by an owner of an existing single-family residence of a western Joshua tree that is either of the following:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(A)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Within 30 feet of the single-family residence or within 15 feet of an existing accessory structure.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(B)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Within the construction footprint, or within 15 feet of the construction footprint, of a new accessory structure that is proposed to be constructed for the single-family residence.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The removal by a developer of a public works project of a western Joshua tree that is within the construction footprint, or within 15 feet of the construction footprint, of the public works project.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A property owner or public works project developer seeking a permit shall submit a request to the department on a form to be provided by the department that requires the following information:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The name, telephone number, mailing address, and email address of the property owner or public works project developer seeking the permit.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The street address of the single-family residence or public works project on which each western Joshua tree requested to be removed is located. If a street address is not available, the property owner or public works project developer shall include the assessor’s
parcel number.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A statement as to whether each western Joshua tree requested to be removed meets the conditions described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1), or paragraph (2), of subdivision (a).
</html:p>
<html:p>
(4)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The size class of each western Joshua tree requested to be removed, in accordance with paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 1927.3.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(5)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The distance of each western Joshua tree requested to be removed from the single-family residence, existing accessory structure, or construction footprint of a new accessory structure that is proposed to be constructed or of the public works project.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(6)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Photographs of each western Joshua tree requested to be removed that depict its location relative to the single-family residence, existing accessory
structure, or construction footprint of a new accessory structure that is proposed to be constructed or of the public works project.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(c)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Within 60 days of receipt of a request for a permit pursuant to subdivision (b), the department shall do either of the following:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Notify the property owner or public works project developer that the department will issue a permit for the removal of the western Joshua tree.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Deny the request if the request does not demonstrate a permit can be issued pursuant to this section. A denial shall include a brief description explaining why a permit cannot be issued.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(d)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code shall not apply to the issuance of a permit pursuant to this
section.
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