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History
- Print number 2454a
- Amend and recommit to environmental conservation
- Referred to environmental conservation
- Reported and committed to finance
- Referred to environmental conservation
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Establishes the "environmental justice act"
In Assembly Committee · Environmental Conservation · Sponsor Crystal Peoples-Stokes
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to establishing the "New York state environmental justice act"
Purpose
The purpose of the legislation is to develop and implement a procedure within the State's agencies, boards and commission to insure that all New York's communities are afforded fair treatment and meaningful involvement in environmental decision-making.
Summary of provisions
Section one entitles the act as
THE NEW YORK STATE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ACT.ct.
Section two declares the findings that racial and ethnic minority populations and low-income communities bear a disproportionate share of health risks caused by polluted air and contaminated water, solid waste landfills, hazardous waste facilities, waste water treatment plants, waste incinerators, and other similar projects.
Section three defines environmental justice, requires all agencies to adopt and implement environmental justice policies, requires all state environmental protection programs and policies to be periodically reviewed, requires the Department of Environmental Conservation to create an Environmental Justice Advisory Council and an Environmental Justice Task Force.
Section four is the effective date, providing that the Environmental Justice Advisory Council and the Environmental Justice Task Force will be established and operating by October 1,2011.
Justification
Environmental justice efforts focus on improving the environment in under-served communities, specifically minority and low-income communities, and addressing disproportionate adverse environmental impacts that may exist in those communities.
This legislation seeks to establish a way for the environmental treatment of New York's diverse communities to be fair and equitable, meaning that no group of people, including a racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic group bear a disproportionate share of the negative environmental consequences resulting from industrial, municipal, and commercial operations or the execution of state programs and policies.
By establishing in law both an Environmental Justice Advisory Council and an Environmental Justice Task Force, the State of New York will be committed to ensuring that communities are afforded fair treatment and meaningful involvement in decision-making through governmental procedures which will safeguard residents' health and welfare, and achieve environmental justice.
Legislative history
2005: S.4809, 2007: S.2651
Fiscal implications
None to state. The SFY 2005-06 enacted budget contains $500,000 to DEC for environmental justice programs.
Local fiscal implications
None to localities.
Effective date
The act shall take effect July 1, 2011; however, the Environmental Justice Task Force and the Environmental Justice Advisory Council will be established and operating by October 1, 2011.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.