This bill mandates the executive director of the department of fish and game to establish rules for verifying the accuracy of records related to threatened and endangered wildlife. Specifically, it requires the adoption of procedures to ensure that the data collected is accurate, including considerations for the age of the data. Additionally, the bill stipulates that landowner permission must be obtained before gathering site-specific species location data. The executive director is tasked with implementing these rules within one year of the bill's effective date.

The bill also clarifies that all state departments and agencies must act reasonably to avoid jeopardizing the existence of threatened species or damaging their critical habitats. It includes a definition of "appreciably jeopardize the continued existence of such species," which will be established through the rules adopted by the executive director. Furthermore, the provisions of this bill will not apply to state departments or agencies when federal law requires them to address environmental impacts on wildlife. The act is set to take effect 60 days after its passage and is noted to have no fiscal impact on state, county, or local expenditures or revenue.

Statutes affected:
As Amended by the House: 212-A:9