(a) This section does not provide the public a right of entry onto the enrolled land or water. The landowner shall provide the department, its contractors, or agents with access to the land or water proposed to be enrolled in the agreement to develop the agreement, determine the baseline conditions, monitor the effectiveness of management actions, or safely remove or salvage species proposed to be taken.
(b) The department shall provide notice to the landowner at least seven days before accessing the land or water for the purposes of subdivision (a). The notice shall identify each person selected by the department, its contractors, or agents to access the land or water.
(c) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), during the seven-day notice period, a landowner may object, in writing, to a person selected to access the land or water. If a landowner objects, another person shall be selected by the department, its contractors, or agents, and notification shall be provided to the landowner pursuant to subdivision (b). However, if a landowner objects to a selection on two successive occasions, the landowner shall be deemed to consent to access to the land or water by a person selected by the department, its contractors, or agents. Failure by a landowner to object to the selection within the seven-day notice period shall be deemed consent to access the land or water by a person selected by the department, its contractors, or agents.
(d) (1) Notwithstanding any other law, the landowner is not required to do either of the following:
(A) Maintain enrolled land or water, or land or water proposed to be enrolled in an agreement, in a condition that is safe for access, entry, or use by the department, its contractors, or agents for purposes of providing access pursuant to subdivision (a).
(B) Provide to the department, its contractors, or agents, any warning of a hazardous condition, use, structure, or activity on enrolled land or water, or land or water proposed to be enrolled in an agreement, for purposes of providing access pursuant to subdivision (a).
(2) Notwithstanding any other law, the landowner shall not be liable for any injury, and does not owe a duty of care, to the department, its contractors, or agents resulting from any act or omission described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (1).
(3) The provision of access to land pursuant to subdivision (a) shall not be construed as any of the following:
(A) An assurance that the land or water is safe.
(B) A grant to the person accessing the land or water of a legal status for which the landowner would owe a duty of care.
(C) An assumption of responsibility or liability for any injury to a person or property caused by any act of the person to whom access to the land or water is provided.
(4) Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) to (3), inclusive, this subdivision shall not be construed to limit a landowner’s liability for an injury under either of the following circumstances:
(A) Willful or malicious failure to guard or warn against a dangerous condition, use, structure, or activity on the land or water.
(B) Express invitation to a person by the landowner to access the land or water, in a manner that is beyond the access required to be provided pursuant to subdivision (a).
(e) Nothing in this section creates a duty of care or a ground of liability for injury to person or property.
(Added by Stats. 2009, Ch. 184, Sec. 1. (SB 448) Effective January 1, 2010.)