Bill Text: CA AB3136 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Attorney General: Bureau of Environmental Justice.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 11-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-05-16 - In committee: Held under submission. [AB3136 Detail]
Download: California-2023-AB3136-Introduced.html
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 3136
| Introduced by Assembly Member Reyes (Principal coauthor: Senator Durazo) (Coauthors: Assembly Members Friedman, Garcia, Kalra, and Zbur) (Coauthors: Senators Blakespear, Gonzalez, and Menjivar) |
February 16, 2024 |
An act to add Section 12613 to the Government Code, relating to state government.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 3136, as introduced, Reyes.
Attorney General: Bureau of Environmental Justice.
Existing law establishes various programs for the enforcement of environmental protection. Existing law defines environmental justice, for certain purposes, 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. Existing law makes legislative findings and declarations that it is in the public interest to provide the people of the state through the Attorney General with adequate remedy to protect the natural resources of the state from pollution, impairment, or destruction. Existing law authorizes the Attorney General to intervene in any judicial or administrative proceeding in which facts are alleged concerning pollution or adverse environmental effects that could affect the public generally.
This bill would
continue in existence, within the Department of Justice, the Bureau of Environmental Justice for the purpose of protecting people and communities that endure a disproportionate share of environmental pollution and public health hazards. The bill would require the bureau to ensure 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, pursuant to the existing authority of the Attorney General, as specified. The bill would require the Attorney General to ensure the bureau is staffed with a minimum of 12 attorneys and an appropriate number of support staff.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NOBill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 12613 is added to the Government Code, immediately following Section 12612, to read:12613.
(a) There is continued in existence within the Department of Justice a Bureau of Environmental Justice.(b) The purpose of the bureau is to protect people and communities that endure a disproportionate share of environmental pollution and public health hazards. The bureau shall ensure 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, pursuant to the existing authority of the Attorney General, including, but not limited to, all of the following:
(1) Ensuring compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public
Resources Code) and land use planning laws.
(2) Penalizing and preventing illegal discharge to air and water from facilities located in communities already burdened disproportionately with pollution.
(3) Eliminating or reducing exposure to lead and other toxins in the environment and consumer products.
(4) Remediating contaminated drinking water.
(5) Challenging policies that inadequately protect public health and environmental protections.
(c) The Attorney General shall ensure the bureau is staffed with a minimum of 12 attorneys and an appropriate number of support staff.
