By: Reynolds	H.B. No. 67

Statutes affected:
Introduced: ()

	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to the establishment of the Texas Environmental Justice
	Advisory Council.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  The heading to Subtitle G, Title 5, Health and
	Safety Code, is amended to read as follows:
	SUBTITLE G. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND JUSTICE
	SECTION 2.  Subtitle G, Title 5, Health and Safety Code, is
	amended by adding Chapter 428 to read as follows:
	CHAPTER 428. TEXAS ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ADVISORY COUNCIL
	Sec. 428.0101.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
	(1)  "Commission" means the Texas Commission on
	Environmental Quality.
	(2)  "Council" means the Texas Environmental Justice
	Advisory Council.
	(3)  "Environmental justice" means the fair treatment
	of people of all races, cultures, and incomes in the development,
	adoption, implementation, and enforcement of environmental law and
	policy.
	(4)  "Review board" means the Environmental Justice
	Review Board.
	Sec. 428.0102.  TEXAS ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ADVISORY
	COUNCIL. The Texas Environmental Justice Advisory Council is
	established to advise state agencies and local governments on
	environmental justice issues.
	Sec. 428.0103.  MEMBERSHIP. (a) The council is composed of
	eight members appointed as follows:
	(1)  one member appointed by the executive director of
	the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality;
	(2)  one member appointed by the executive commissioner
	of the Health and Human Services Commission;
	(3)  one member appointed by the attorney general;
	(4)  one member appointed by the executive director of
	the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs;
	(5)  one member appointed by the commissioner of
	agriculture;
	(6)  one member appointed by the executive director of
	the Texas Department of Transportation;
	(7)  one member appointed by the commissioner of
	education; and
	(8)  one member appointed by the governor.
	(b)  Members of the council serve two-year terms.
	Sec. 428.0104.  ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE REVIEW BOARD. (a)
	The Environmental Justice Review Board is established.  The review
	board is composed of 15 members appointed by the council as follows:
	(1)  five members from grassroots or faith-based
	community organizations; and
	(2)  10 members from public health, environmental, and
	civil rights organizations, academia, large and small businesses,
	local government officials, and organized labor.
	(b)  The review board shall meet at least four times a year
	and select a presiding officer from its membership.
	(c)  The review board shall advise the council about issues
	related to environmental justice and the action plans developed
	under Section 428.0107.
	Sec. 428.0105.  STATE PROGRAM REVIEW. (a) The council shall
	review each state agency and state program that serves to protect
	the environment to evaluate the agency's or program's positive and
	negative effects on environmental justice for affected people.
	(b)  Upon completing a review of a state agency or program
	under Subsection (a), the council shall prepare a report
	containing:
	(1)  the council's findings from the review; and
	(2)  legislative and policy recommendations to address
	any environmental justice issues associated with the reviewed
	agency or program.
	(c)  The council shall deliver a report prepared under this
	section to the reviewed state agency or the state agency that
	oversees the reviewed program, the governor, the lieutenant
	governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives.