BILL ANALYSIS
SB 89
Page 1
SENATE THIRD READING
SB 89 (Escutia)
As Amended August 25, 2000
Majority vote
SENATE VOTE :24-13
NATURAL RESOURCES 7-1 APPROPRIATIONS 14-6
-----------------------------------------------------------------
|Ayes:|Wayne, Jackson, Keeley, |Ayes:|Migden, Alquist, Aroner, |
| |Lowenthal, Machado, | |Cedillo, Corbett, Davis, |
| |Migden, Steinberg | |Kuehl, Papan, Romero, |
| | | |Shelley, Thomson, Wesson, |
| | | |Wiggins, Wright |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
|Nays:|Oller |Nays:|Campbell, Ackerman, |
| | | |Ashburn, Brewer, |
| | | |Maldonado, Zettel |
| | | | |
-----------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY : Requires the Secretary of the California Environmental
Protection Agency (CalEPA) to convene a working group on
environmental justice and to convene an advisory committee to
advise the working group. It also requires periodic reports
updating the implementation of environmental justice laws in
California. Specifically, this bill:
1)Establishes a Working Group on environmental justice to work
within CalEPA that is specifically charged with assisting the
agency in developing the mission statement that is required by
Public Resources Code Section 72001.
2)The eight members of the working group are the Secretary of
CalEPA, and all the directors of CalEPA departments or boards.
The only non-CalEPA member is the director of the Office of
Planning and Research, whose agency is by law charged with
serving as the coordinating agency for environmental justice
efforts in California.
3)The working group is charged with several responsibilities,
including:
a) Examining existing environmental justice studies and
consulting with state, federal, and local agencies as well
SB 89
Page 2
as affected communities;
b) Making recommendations to the Secretary regarding gaps
or deficiencies in existing programs that might hinder
achievement of environmental justice;
c) Making recommendations regarding the translation of
documents into other languages and assisting in holding
meaningful public meetings; and,
d) Conducting public meetings and responding to public
comments.
4)Requires the Secretary to appoint an advisory committee to
assist the working group. Its membership will be appointed by
the Secretary with the following groups represented:
a) Two local or regional land use planning agencies;
b) Two air district representatives;
c) Two representatives from certified unified program
agencies (CUPAs);
d) Three representatives of the business community, one
from a small business and two representing large
businesses; and,
e) Two representatives from community organizations.
5)CalEPA is to provide a reasonable per diem for attendance at
advisory committee meetings to non-governmental organizational
representatives.
6)The Secretary of CalEPA is to prepare a report on the
implementation of this statute every three years, beginning no
later than January 1, 2006.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Defines environmental justice in California as 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."
(Government Code Section 65040.12)
SB 89
Page 3
2)Requires CalEPA to develop a model environmental justice
mission statement for its departments, boards, and offices.
(Public Resources Code Section 72001)
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee analysis, this bill will cost $150,000 in fiscal year
2001-2002.
COMMENTS : The working group that is to be established will be
appointed by the Secretary and will be comprised of
representatives of state agencies with specific technical or
programming responsibilities. The working group is to complete
by 2003 a series of recommendations on implementing
environmental justice procedures and policies into CalEPA's
programs. These recommendations are to involve proposals to
collect and coordinate data about environmental justice, to
increase public participation, and to propose whatever else is
necessary to create an interagency environmental justice
strategy.
The technical group that is to be appointed is to represent
local and regional land use planning agencies, air pollution
control districts, certified unified program agencies, the
public, and the business community. The technical committee is
to advise the working group.
The reporting requirement in the bill states that the Secretary,
not later than January 1, 2006, and every three years
thereafter, shall report to the Governor and the Legislature on
the implementation of CalEPA's environmental justice strategy.
Analysis Prepared by : William Craven / NAT. RES. / (916)
319-2092 FN:
0006530