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2022 SESSION

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22102311D
HOUSE BILL NO. 969 Offered January 12, 2022 Prefiled January 12, 2022 A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 15.2-2223.6, relating to comprehensive plan; environmental justice strategy. ---------- Patron-- Simonds ---------- Referred to Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns ----------

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 15.2-2223.6 as follows:

§ 15.2-2223.6. Comprehensive plan shall consider adopting an environmental justice strategy.

A. For purposes of this section:

"Environmental justice community" has the same meaning as that term is defined in § 2.2-234, as determined by the most currently available demographic information compiled for census tracts or census blocks within the local planning commission's jurisdiction, provided that any discrete geographic area smaller than a census tract or census block within the local planning commission's jurisdiction may be designated as an environmental justice community in accordance with the definition set forth in § 2.2-234.

"Fenceline community" has the same meaning as that term is defined in § 2.2-234.

B. Beginning July 1, 2022, each city with a population greater than 20,000 and each county with a population greater than 100,000 shall, during the next scheduled and all subsequent reviews of its comprehensive plan, as required in § 15.2-2230, consider adopting an environmental justice strategy that meets the requirements of this section.

C. The environmental justice strategy shall:

1. Identify each environmental justice community and fenceline community within the local planning commission's jurisdiction;

2. Identify objectives and policies to reduce the unique or compounded health risks in environmental justice communities and fenceline communities by means that include, but are not limited to, the reduction of pollution exposure, the improvement of air and water quality, emergency management, resilience to increased flooding, excessive heat and other impacts of a changing climate, and the promotion of public facilities, food access, safe and sanitary homes, and physical activity;

3. Identify objectives and policies to promote civic engagement in public decision-making processes by members of environmental justice communities and fenceline communities; and

4. Identify objectives and policies that prioritize improvements and programs that address the needs of environmental justice communities and fenceline communities, including broadband Internet access, job training, access to public parks and greenways, increased tree canopy, public transit services, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, electric vehicle charging, and other clean transportation options.