Section 2074.6 Of Article 2. Listing Of Endangered Species From California Fish And Game Code >> Division 3. >> Chapter 1.5. >> Article 2.

. (a) The department shall promptly commence a review of the status of the species concerned in the petition. Within 12 months of the date of publication of a notice of acceptance of a petition for consideration by the commission pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 2074.2, the department shall provide a written report to the commission, based upon the best scientific information available to the department, which indicates whether the petitioned action is warranted, which includes a preliminary identification of the habitat that may be essential to the continued existence of the species, and which recommends management activities and other recommendations for recovery of the species.
  (b) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2017.