New California Law

Bill Title: Wildlife connectivity: transportation projects.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-0)

Status: (Passed) 2022-09-30 – Chaptered by Secretary of State – Chapter 964, Statutes of 2022.

Assembly Bill No. 2344
CHAPTER 964

An act to add Article 3.8 (commencing with Section 158) to Chapter 1 of Division 1 of, and to repeal Section 158.5 of, the Streets and Highways Code, relating to fish and wildlife.

[ Approved by Governor September 30, 2022. Filed with Secretary of State September 30, 2022. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 2344, Friedman. Wildlife connectivity: transportation projects.
Under existing law, the Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) has jurisdiction over the conservation, protection, and management of fish, wildlife, native plants, and habitat necessary for biologically sustainable populations of those species. Existing law authorizes DFW to approve compensatory mitigation credits for wildlife connectivity actions taken under specified programs.
Existing law vests the Department of Transportation (Caltrans) with full possession and control of the state highway system. Existing law requires Caltrans to complete assessments of potential barriers to anadromous fish prior to commencing any project using state or federal transportation funds and requires projects to be constructed without presenting barriers to fish passage.