Section 2859 Of Chapter 10.5. Marine Life Protection Act From California Fish And Game Code >> Division 3. >> Chapter 10.5.
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. (a) On or before January 1, 2005, the department shall submit
to the commission a draft of the master plan prepared pursuant to
this chapter.
(b) On or before April 1, 2005, after public review, not less than
three public meetings, and appropriate modifications of the draft
plan, the department shall submit a proposed final master plan to the
commission. On or before December 1, 2005, the commission shall
adopt a final master plan and a Marine Life Protection Program with
regulations based on the plan and shall implement the program, to the
extent funds are available. The commission's adoption of the plan
and a program based on the plan shall not trigger an additional
review under the California Environmental Quality Act (Division 13
(commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code).
(c) The commission shall hold at least two public hearings on the
master plan and the Marine Life Protection Program prior to adopting
the plan and program. The commission may adopt the plan and the
program immediately following the second public hearing or at any
duly noticed subsequent meeting.
(d) Upon the commission's adoption of the program, the commission
shall submit the master plan and program description, including
marine life reserve and other MPA designations, to the Joint
Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture for review and comment. Upon
receipt of the plan, the joint committee shall have 60 days to review
the plan and to submit written recommendations to the commission
regarding the plan and program. The joint committee shall only submit
a recommendation to the commission if a majority of the members
agree to that recommendation. The commission shall consider all
recommendations submitted by the joint committee, and may amend the
program to incorporate the recommendations. If the commission does
not incorporate any recommendations submitted by the joint committee,
the commission shall set forth, in writing, its reasons for not
incorporating that recommendation.