BILL NUMBER: SB 89	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE   JANUARY 26, 2000
	AMENDED IN SENATE   JANUARY 14, 2000
	AMENDED IN SENATE   APRIL 14, 1999

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Escutia

                        DECEMBER 7, 1998

   An act to amend Section 72001 of, and to add Sections 72002,
72003, and 72004 to, the Public Resources Code, relating to
environmental justice.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 89, as amended, Escutia.  Environmental quality:  minority and
low-income populations.
   Existing law establishes the Office of Planning and Research as
the coordinating agency in state government for environmental justice
programs.  Existing law defines "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.
   This bill would require the Secretary for Environmental
Protection, on or before January 15, 2001, to convene a Working Group
on Environmental Justice, composed of  various 
representatives  from state and   as determined
by the secretary, including representatives of  local
government, as prescribed.  The bill would make the existing
definition of "environmental justice" applicable to its provisions
and would require the working group to take various actions relating
to the  developmental   development  and
implementation of environmental justice strategies.
   The bill would require the secretary, on or before January 15,
2001, to convene a technical advisory committee to assist the working
group by providing recommendations and information to, and serving
as a resource for, the working group.  The bill would also require
the secretary, not later than January, 1 2006, and every 3 years
thereafter, to prepare and submit to the Governor and the Legislature
a report on the implementation of the body of law of which this bill
would be a part.
   Vote:  majority.  Appropriation:  no.  Fiscal committee:  yes.
State-mandated local program:  no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Section 72001 of the Public Resources Code is amended
to read:
   72001.  (a) 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.
   (b) For purposes of this part, environmental justice has the same
meaning as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 65040.12 of the
Government Code.
  SEC. 2.  Section 72002 is added to the Public Resources Code, to
read:
   72002.  (a) On or before January 15, 2001, the Secretary for
Environmental Protection shall convene a Working Group on
Environmental Justice to assist the California Environmental
Protection Agency in developing an agencywide strategy for
identifying and addressing any gaps in existing programs, policies,
or activities that may impede the achievement of environmental
justice.
   (b) The working group shall be composed of  the Attorney
General, the Director of Planning and Research, and any other
appropriate state agency representatives   various
representatives of groups or entities concerned with achieving
environmental justice  , as determined by the Secretary for
Environmental Protection,  and   including 
representatives of local governments.
   (c) On or before January 1, 2002, the working group shall do all
of the following:
   (1) Examine existing data and studies on environmental justice.
   (2) Recommend criteria to  state agencies 
the California Environmental Protection Agency  for
identifying and addressing any gaps in existing programs, policies,
or activities that may impede the achievement of environmental
justice.
   (3) Recommend procedures and provide guidance to  each
state agency   the California Environmental Protection
Agency  for the coordination and implementation of intraagency
 and agencywide  environmental justice strategies.
   (4) Recommend procedures for collecting, maintaining, analyzing,
and coordinating information relating to an environmental justice
strategy.
   (5) Recommend procedures to ensure that public documents, notices,
and public hearings relating to human health or the environment are
concise, understandable, and readily accessible to the public.  The
recommendation shall include guidance for determining when it is
appropriate for  a state agency   the California
Environmental Protection Agency  to translate crucial public
documents, notices, and hearings relating to human health or the
environment for limited-English-speaking populations.
   (6) Hold public meetings, as appropriate, to receive public
comments regarding recommendations required pursuant to this section.

   (7) Make recommendations on other matters needed to assist the
agency in developing an  agencywide  
intraagency  environmental justice strategy.
  SEC. 3.  Section 72003 is added to the Public Resources Code, to
read:
   72003.  The Secretary for Environmental Protection shall, on or
before January 15, 2001, convene a technical advisory group to assist
the working group described in Section 72002 by providing
recommendations and information to, and serving as a resource for,
the working group.  The technical advisory group shall be composed of
representatives from local and regional land use planning agencies,
air pollution control districts, certified unified program agencies
(CUPAs), the public, and the business community.  The technical
advisory group may form subcommittees to address specific types of
environmental program areas.
  SEC. 4.  Section 72004 is added to the Public Resources Code, to
read:
   72004.  The Secretary for Environmental Protection shall, not
later than January 1, 2006, and every three years, thereafter,
prepare and submit to the Governor and the Legislature a report on
the implementation of this part.