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SB-115 Environmental justice.(1999-2000)



Current Version: 10/10/99 - Chaptered

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SB115:v91#DOCUMENT

Senate Bill No. 115
CHAPTER 690

An act to add Section 65040.12 to the Government Code, and to add Part 3 (commencing with Section 72000) to Division 34 of the Public Resources Code, relating to environmental quality.

[ Filed with Secretary of State  October 10, 1999. Approved by Governor  October 06, 1999. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


SB 115, Solis. Environmental justice.
Under existing law, the Office of Planning and Research serves the Governor and his or her Cabinet as staff for long-range planning and research, and is the comprehensive state planning agency. Existing law, the California Environmental Quality Act, requires the office to prepare, and the Secretary of Resources to certify and adopt, guidelines for use in implementing the act.
Existing law establishes the California Environmental Protection Agency, which is responsible for enhancing the state’s protection of the environment.
This bill would provide that the office is the coordinating agency in state government for environmental justice programs. The bill would require the Director of Planning and Research to consult with the secretaries of specified state agencies, and other parties to coordinate the office’s efforts and, share specified information with certain federal agencies, and review and evaluate other federal information, as provided. The bill would define “environmental justice” to mean the fair treatment of people of all races, cultures, and incomes with respect to the development, adoption, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws and policies. The bill would require the California Environmental Protection Agency to take specified actions in designing its mission for programs, policies, and standards within the agency, and to develop a model environmental justice mission statement for boards, departments, and offices within the agency, by January 1, 2001.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 65040.12 is added to the Government Code, to read:

65040.12.
 (a) The office shall be the coordinating agency in state government for environmental justice programs.
(b) The director shall do all of the following:
(1) Consult with the Secretaries of the California Environmental Protection Agency, the Resources Agency, the Trade and Commerce Agency, the Business, Transportation, and Housing Agency, any other appropriate state agencies, and all other interested members of the public and private sectors in this state.
(2) Coordinate the office’s efforts and share information regarding environmental justice programs with the Council on Environmental Quality, the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the General Accounting Office, the Office of Management and Budget, and other federal agencies.
(3) Review and evaluate any information from federal agencies that is obtained as a result of their respective regulatory activities under federal Executive Order 12898.
(c) For the purposes of this section, “environmental justice” means the fair treatment of people of all races, cultures, and incomes with respect to the development, adoption, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.

SEC. 2.

 Part 3 (commencing with Section 72000) is added to Division 34 of the Public Resources Code, to read:

PART 3. ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

72000.
 The California Environmental Protection Agency, in designing its mission for programs, policies, and standards, shall do all of the following:
(a) Conduct its programs, policies, and activities that substantially affect human health or the environment in a manner that ensures the fair treatment of people of all races, cultures, and income levels, including minority populations and low-income populations of the state.
(b) Promote enforcement of all health and environmental statutes within its jurisdiction in a manner that ensures the fair treatment of people of all races, cultures, and income levels, including minority populations and low-income populations in the state.
(c) Ensure greater public participation in the agency’s development, adoption, and implementation of environmental regulations and policies.
(d) Improve research and data collection for programs within the agency relating to the health of, and environment of, people of all races, cultures, and income levels, including minority populations and low-income populations of the state.
(e) Identify differential patterns of consumption of natural resources among people of different socioeconomic classifications for programs within the agency.

72001.
 On or before January 1, 2001, the California Environmental Protection Agency shall develop a model environmental justice mission statement for boards, departments, and offices within the agency. For purposes of this section, environmental justice has the same meaning as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 65040.12 of the Government Code.