(a) Upon a specific appropriation of funds by the Legislature, or if funding is otherwise available, the department may develop and implement nonregulatory recovery plans for the conservation and survival of species listed as an endangered species or as a threatened species, unless the department finds that the recovery plan will not promote the conservation of the species.

(b) The department, in developing and implementing recovery plans, shall, to the extent practicable, give priority to those endangered or threatened species, without regard to taxonomic classification, that are most likely to benefit from a recovery plan, particularly those species populations that are, or may be, significantly affected by anticipated land use changes, climate change, or changes in aquatic conditions.

(c) Each recovery plan shall be based on the best available scientific information and shall, at a minimum, include all of the following:

(1) A description of site-specific management actions necessary to achieve the recovery plan’s goal for the conservation of the species.

(2) Objective, measurable criteria that, when achieved, would result in a determination, in accordance with the provisions of this section, that the species be removed from the list of endangered species or the list of threatened species, as applicable.

(3) Estimates of the time required and the cost to carry out those measures needed to achieve the goal of the recovery plan and to achieve intermediate steps toward that goal.

(d) The department, in developing and implementing a recovery plan, may consider data and appropriate information from public and private agencies and institutions, and other qualified persons, in addition to data and appropriate information derived from the public process required pursuant to subdivision (g).

(e) The department may, in its discretion, adopt, or may adopt with revisions, an existing federal recovery plan for a species described in subdivision (a) that is also listed as an endangered species or a threatened species pursuant to Section 4 of the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. Sec. 1533) if the department finds that the recovery plan is consistent with the provisions of this section.

(f) Subject to subdivision (a), and pursuant to subdivision (g), the department shall adopt guidelines and criteria to aid in the implementation of this section. Upon adoption, the department shall post the guidelines and criteria on its Internet Web site.

(g) Development of a recovery plan pursuant to subdivision (a), and adoption of guidelines and criteria pursuant to subdivision (f), shall be through a public process including at least one public meeting at which the department provides landowners, local governments, and interested members of the public the opportunity for input. The public meeting may be in conjunction with a meeting of the commission. In the case of a recovery plan, the public meeting shall be held in the recovery planning area.

(h) Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code does not apply to the development, adoption, or amendment of guidelines, criteria, or recovery plans pursuant to this section.

(Added by Stats. 2018, Ch. 329, Sec. 8. (SB 473) Effective January 1, 2019.)