SEARCH SITE

VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL

SEARCHABLE DATABASES

ACROSS SESSIONS

Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.

2020 SESSION

  • | print version

SB 406 Environmental justice; definitions, agency regulations, Virginia Environmental Justice Act, policy.

Introduced by: Ghazala F. Hashmi | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles | history

SUMMARY AS ENACTED WITH GOVERNOR'S RECOMMENDATION:

Environmental justice; policy. Provides that it is the policy of the Commonwealth to promote environmental justice, defined in the bill, and to ensure that it is carried out throughout the Commonwealth. This bill is identical to HB 704.

SUMMARY AS PASSED:

Environmental justice; policy. Provides that it is the policy of the Commonwealth to promote environmental justice, defined in the bill, and to ensure that it is carried out throughout the Commonwealth. This bill is identical to HB 704.

SUMMARY AS PASSED SENATE:

Virginia Environmental Justice Act; definitions, responsibilities of state agencies. Requires state agencies to determine the likely effect of their actions on environmental justice and fenceline communities and to tailor those actions to reduce the potential for adverse impacts on such communities in a manner consistent with the environmental justice policy created by the agency. The bill also creates an interagency work group for the purpose of furthering environmental justice in the Commonwealth.

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Virginia Environmental Justice Act. Establishes the Virginia Environmental Justice Act to promote the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, income, faith, or disability with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws and policies. Under the bill, state agencies are required to examine any new regulation or policy or amendment to an existing regulation or policy involving state action or funds in relation to its impact on environmental justice prior to adoption of the regulation or policy. The bill requires the Governor's Secretaries to develop a policy or strategy to promote environmental justice in ways that are tailored to the specific authority, mission, and programs under their Secretariat no later than January 1, 2021.