(a) Beginning in 2025, by January 31 of each calendar year, the department shall submit an annual report to the commission and the Legislature assessing the conservation status of the western Joshua tree, including, but not limited to, by detailing the number of permits issued, the number and size class of western Joshua trees authorized to be taken, the number of western Joshua trees lethally removed, the number and location of western Joshua trees relocated, the number and location of acres of western Joshua tree woodlands developed, the type, scope, and scale of mitigation measures undertaken by permittees, the number and location of acres of western Joshua tree woodlands conserved, the quality of the acres conserved, the amount of fees paid, the amount of all expenditures from the fund, the projects and actions funded by expenditures from the fund, the adequacy of the fees to conserve the western Joshua tree, actions taken pursuant to the conservation plan, and other relevant information. The department’s annual report shall summarize the information provided by counties and cities pursuant to agreements entered into pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 1927.3 and subdivision (b) of Section 1927.4.

(b) The report to the Legislature pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be submitted in accordance with § 9795 of the Government Code.

(Added by Stats. 2023, Ch. 51, Sec. 5. (SB 122) Effective July 10, 2023. Conditionally operative pursuant to Section 1927.2.)