Bill Text: VA HB1000 | 2024 | Regular Session | Comm Sub
Bill Title: Environmental Justice Task Force; establishes, report.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-02-13 - Left in Rules [HB1000 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2024-HB1000-Comm_Sub.html
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. §1. There is hereby established the Environmental Justice Task Force (the Task Force) for the purpose of furthering environmental justice in the Commonwealth. The Task Force shall consist of appointees from each of the following agencies: the Department of Conservation and Recreation, Department of Emergency Management, Department of Energy, Department of Housing and Community Development, Department of Health, Department of Transportation, the State Corporation Commission, and the Virginia Economic Development Partnership. The Task Force shall require agencies within the Task Force to work with an independent consultant to analyze and report the environmental justice practices and policies of such agencies. The Department of Environmental Quality's Office of Environmental Justice shall oversee the development of such independent environmental justice reports.
The Task Force shall (i) advise the Governor on environmental justice issues; (ii) advise the state agencies of the Commonwealth on environmental justice issues; (iii) meet with residents of the Commonwealth, representatives from impacted communities, social justice organizations, consumer protection organizations, and representatives from local governments; (iv) make recommendations to the Governor to address concerns raised by such residents and organizations in relation to environmental justice; and (v) make recommendations to the Governor to address concerns raised by the independent environmental justice reports completed by the agencies of the Task Force.
All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Task Force upon request. The Task Force shall report its findings and conclusions to the Governor and the General Assembly no later than November 1, 2024, and annually thereafter. Such report shall be submitted as a report document as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website. Prior to submitting the annual report to the Governor and General Assembly, the Task Force shall transmit a final draft of the report to the Virginia Council on Environmental Justice and request the Council to provide written comments.
