Fish & G. Code, § 1927.2

(a) No person or public agency shall import into this state, export out of this state, or take, possess, purchase, or sell within this state, a western Joshua tree or any part or product of the tree, except as authorized pursuant to any of the following, as applicable:

(1) This chapter.

(2) The California Endangered Species Act.

(3) The Natural Community Conservation Planning Act (Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 2800) of Division 3).

(b) During any period in which the western Joshua tree has been designated by the commission as a candidate for listing under the California Endangered Species Act, any person or public agency seeking a take authorization for the western Joshua tree may obtain a take authorization as provided by the California Endangered Species Act or by electing to pay the fees set forth in Section 1927.3.

(c) (1) This chapter is a change in state law, within the meaning of paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of Section 2075.5, that has a direct and significant impact on the commission’s determination as to whether the petitioned action is warranted. Pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 2075.5, the commission shall reopen the administrative record for the commission’s determination for the purpose of assessing the impact of the conservation program established by this chapter.

(2) In making the assessment described in paragraph (1), the commission shall consider all of the following:

(A) The effectiveness of any conservation measures funded through expenditures of fees by the department pursuant to Section 1927.5.

(B) The conservation plan developed by the department and approved by the commission pursuant to Section 1927.6.

(C) Any annual reports submitted to the commission by the department pursuant to Section 1927.7.

(D) Any recommendations submitted to the commission by the department pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 1927.8.

(E) The fee adjustments, if any, adopted by the department pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 1927.8.

(F) An updated status review to be submitted to the commission by the department no later than January 1, 2033, unless the commission directs the department to submit the updated status review sooner.

(d) If the commission determines that listing the western Joshua tree as endangered or threatened pursuant to the California Endangered Species Act is not warranted, this chapter shall remain operative and the authorization of take of a western Joshua tree shall be pursuant to this chapter.

(e) If the commission determines that listing the western Joshua tree as endangered or threatened pursuant to the California Endangered Species Act is warranted, this chapter shall become inoperative and the authorization of take of a western Joshua tree shall only be pursuant to Chapter 1.5 (commencing with Section 2050) of Division 3 or pursuant to the Natural Community Conservation Planning Act (Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 2800) of Division 3).

(f) Upon the approval of a natural community conservation plan that provides for the conservation of the western Joshua tree as a covered species, the authorization of take of a western Joshua tree for any project or activity covered by the plan shall only be pursuant to Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 2800) of Division 3.

(g) The provisions of the Native Plant Protection Act (Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 1900)), and the California Desert Native Plants Act (Division 23 (commencing with Section 80001) of the Food and Agricultural Code), shall not apply to the western Joshua tree.

(h) This section shall not preclude the department from authorizing, by permit or memorandum of understanding, the taking, possession, purchase, or sale within the state of a western Joshua tree to aid the conservation and recovery of the western Joshua tree, or entering into memoranda of understanding with California Native American tribes to provide for the taking and possession of western Joshua trees for tribal cultural purposes, or as otherwise required by applicable law.

(i) Any authorization issued by the department pursuant to Section 2081 or 2084, before the enactment of this chapter, to import, export, take, possess, purchase, or sell a western Joshua tree shall be valid and remain in effect after the enactment of this chapter pursuant to the terms of the authorization.