STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 6849 2021-2022 Regular Sessions IN SENATE May 19, 2021 ___________ Introduced by Sen. MAY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to establishing an office of sustainability The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. The executive law is amended by adding a new section 94-d 2 to read as follows: 3 § 94-d. Office of sustainability. 1. Purpose. It shall be the purpose 4 of the office to coordinate efforts across all agencies and other state 5 government entities to address climate change mitigation and climate 6 sustainability efforts. 7 2. Definitions. For the purposes of this section "office" shall mean 8 the office of sustainability created pursuant to this section. 9 3. Office of sustainability; chief sustainability officer. There is 10 hereby created within the department of state an office of sustainabili- 11 ty. The secretary shall appoint a chief sustainability officer of the 12 office to accomplish the duties set forth in this section. Such chief 13 sustainability officer shall receive an annual salary within amounts 14 appropriated and shall serve at the pleasure of the secretary. 15 4. Organization of the office. The secretary shall have the power to 16 establish, consolidate, reorganize, or abolish any organizational units 17 within the office as they determine to be necessary for the efficient 18 operation of such office. The secretary shall assign functions to any 19 such unit and may appoint staff, agents, and consultants, prescribe 20 their duties, and fix their compensation within amounts appropriated. 21 5. Powers and duties of the office. The office shall have the power 22 and duty to: 23 (a) Review rules and regulations of state agencies and submit proposed 24 amendments and/or additions of such rules and regulations to such agen- 25 cies for consideration that the chief sustainability officer shall deem EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD09737-02-1

S. 6849 2 1 appropriate or necessary to help mitigate negative impacts of climate 2 change and promote climate sustainability; 3 (b) Coordinate policy to promote energy and environmental sustainabil- 4 ity across state government operations, including the office of general 5 services, the New York state energy research and development authority, 6 the department of environmental conservation, and the department of 7 state; 8 (c) Work with state agencies and departments to ensure effective 9 implementation and achievement of statutory requirements and state goals 10 related to energy and environmental protection; 11 (d) Coordinate implementation of programs and initiatives to improve 12 state facility and vehicle fleet efficiency, promote adoption of energy 13 efficient technologies, and modernize state facilities and operations; 14 (e) Design and share with state agencies and departments strategies 15 that can be used to leverage state facilities and assets to advance the 16 conservation of natural resources and highlight best environmental, 17 technological and policy strategies to reach the highest energy effi- 18 ciency standards reasonably possible; 19 (f) Develop sustainable practices to plan for and mitigate enterprise 20 risks while reducing waste and to help strengthen commercial, cultural, 21 and political cooperation and engagement; 22 (g) Advise other state agencies and departments in best practices for 23 environmental regulatory compliance, reporting, partnerships and 24 outreach, and environmental sustainability innovation; 25 (h) Assist the department of state in reducing its use of natural 26 resources through improving energy and water efficiency, and providing 27 data and tools that protect the health of the state government's person- 28 nel and employees and their families; 29 (i) Partner with private sector businesses, public and private univer- 30 sities, and government agencies to improve environmental sustainability 31 across the state; 32 (j) Participate in inter-agency working groups that develop environ- 33 mental requirements and guidance for state agencies; 34 (k) Act as a representative of New York state at the United States 35 Climate Alliance and other national and international organizations 36 focused on climate science and sustainability research and goals that 37 the chief sustainability officer shall deem appropriate; 38 (l) Inform the governor, secretary, legislature, and state agencies 39 and other governmental entities of the latest research and developments 40 in the field of climate science; and 41 (m) Advise and assist the New York state climate action council estab- 42 lished pursuant to section 75-0103 of the environmental conservation law 43 in such duties of such council that the chief sustainability officer 44 shall deem appropriate. 45 § 2. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeed- 46 ing the date on which it shall have become a law.

Establishes an office of sustainability

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