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| Public Act 097-0391 | ||||
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AN ACT concerning environmental justice.
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, | ||||
represented in the General Assembly:
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Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the | ||||
Environmental Justice Act. | ||||
Section 5. Legislative findings. The General Assembly | ||||
finds that: | ||||
(i) the principle of environmental justice requires | ||||
that no segment of the population, regardless of race, | ||||
national origin, age, or income, should bear | ||||
disproportionately high or adverse effects of | ||||
environmental pollution; | ||||
(ii) certain communities in the State may suffer | ||||
disproportionately from environmental hazards related to | ||||
facilities with permits approved by the State; and | ||||
(iii) these environmental hazards can cause long-term | ||||
health effects. | ||||
Section 10. Commission on Environmental Justice. | ||||
(a) The Commission on Environmental Justice is established | ||||
and consists of the following 20 voting members: | ||||
(1) 2 members of the Senate, one appointed by the | ||||
President of the Senate and the other by the Minority | ||||
Leader of the Senate, each to serve at the pleasure of the | ||
appointing officer; | ||
(2) 2 members of the House of Representatives, one | ||
appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives | ||
and the other by the Minority Leader of the House of | ||
Representatives, each to serve at the pleasure of the | ||
appointing officer; | ||
(3) the following ex officio members: the Director of | ||
Aging or his or her designee, the Director of Commerce and | ||
Economic Opportunity or his or her designee, the Director | ||
of the Environmental Protection Agency or his or her | ||
designee, the Director of Natural Resources or his or her | ||
designee, the Director of Public Health or his or her | ||
designee, and the Director of Transportation or his or her | ||
designee;
and
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(4) 10 members appointed by the Governor who represent | ||
the following interests:
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(i) affected communities concerned with | ||
environmental justice; | ||
(ii) business organizations; | ||
(iii) environmental organizations; | ||
(iv) experts on environmental health and | ||
environmental justice; | ||
(v) units of local government; and | ||
(vi) members of the general public who have an | ||
interest or expertise in environmental justice. | ||
(b) Of the initial members of the Commission appointed by | ||
the Governor, 5 shall serve for a 2-year term and 5 shall serve | ||
for a 1-year term, as designated by the Governor at the time of | ||
appointment. Thereafter, the members appointed by the Governor | ||
shall serve 2-year terms. Vacancies shall be filled in the same | ||
manner as appointments. Members of the Commission appointed by | ||
the Governor may not receive compensation for their service on | ||
the Commission and are not entitled to reimbursement for | ||
expenses. | ||
(c) The Governor shall designate a Chairperson from among | ||
the Commission's members. The Commission shall meet at the call | ||
of the Chairperson, but no later than 90 days after the | ||
effective date of this Act and at least quarterly thereafter. | ||
(d) The Commission shall: | ||
(1) advise State entities on environmental justice and | ||
related community issues;
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(2) review and analyze the impact of current State laws | ||
and policies on the issue of environmental justice and | ||
sustainable communities; | ||
(3) assess the adequacy of State and local laws to | ||
address the issue of environmental justice and sustainable | ||
communities; | ||
(4) develop criteria to assess whether communities in | ||
the State may be experiencing environmental justice | ||
issues; and | ||
(5) recommend options to the Governor for addressing | ||
issues, concerns, or problems related to environmental | ||
justice that surface after reviewing State laws and | ||
policies, including prioritizing areas of the State that | ||
need immediate attention.
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(e) On or before October 1, 2011 and each October 1 | ||
thereafter, the Commission shall report its findings and | ||
recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly. | ||
(f) The Environmental Protection Agency shall provide | ||
administrative and other support to the Commission.
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Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon | ||
becoming law.
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