Pennsylvania SB 118: An Act amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known as The Administrative Code of 1929, in powers and duties of the Department of Environmental Resources, its officers and departmental and advisory boards and commissions, providing for Office of Environmental Justice.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 69
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 118
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY HUGHES, COMITTA, KEARNEY, HAYWOOD, COSTA AND
SCHWANK, JANUARY 22, 2025
REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES AND ENERGY, JANUARY 22, 2025
AN ACT
Amending the act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), entitled
"An act providing for and reorganizing the conduct of the
executive and administrative work of the Commonwealth by the
Executive Department thereof and the administrative
departments, boards, commissions, and officers thereof,
including the boards of trustees of State Normal Schools, or
Teachers Colleges; abolishing, creating, reorganizing or
authorizing the reorganization of certain administrative
departments, boards, and commissions; defining the powers and
duties of the Governor and other executive and administrative
officers, and of the several administrative departments,
boards, commissions, and officers; fixing the salaries of the
Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and certain other executive
and administrative officers; providing for the appointment of
certain administrative officers, and of all deputies and
other assistants and employes in certain departments, boards,
and commissions; providing for judicial administration; and
prescribing the manner in which the number and compensation
of the deputies and all other assistants and employes of
certain departments, boards and commissions shall be
determined," in powers and duties of the Department of
Environmental Resources, its officers and departmental and
advisory boards and commissions, providing for Office of
Environmental Justice.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of April 9, 1929 (P.L.177, No.175), known
as The Administrative Code of 1929, is amended by adding a
section to read:
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Section 1940-A. Office of Environmental Justice.--(a) It
shall be the policy of the Commonwealth to promote and ensure
that environmental justice is effectuated in this Commonwealth.
Each Commonwealth agency shall make achieving environmental
justice part of the agency's mission by identifying, addressing
and mitigating disproportionately high and adverse human health
or environmental effects of the programs, policies and
activities of the agency on communities of color and low-income
communities in this Commonwealth.
(b) The Office of Environmental Justice is established
within the department to assist in the implementation of the
public policy under subsection (a).
(c) The secretary shall appoint a director.
(d) The office shall have the following powers and duties:
(1) To advise and make recommendations to the Governor and
the Governor's cabinet on:
(i) Integrating environmental justice considerations
throughout Commonwealth programs, regulations, policies and
procedures.
(ii) Improving the environment and public health in
communities disproportionately burdened by environmental harms
and risks.
(iii) Addressing environmental justice by ensuring
transparent, authentic and equitable engagement in decision
making, building capacity in disproportionately burdened
communities and promoting collaborative problem solving for
issues involving environmental justice.
(iv) Strengthening partnerships on environmental justice
among governmental agencies, including Federal, State and local
government.
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(v) Enhancing research and assessment approaches related to
environmental justice.
(2) To coordinate with all Commonwealth agencies to:
(i) Address and eliminate the disproportionate environmental
and human health impacts on communities of color and low-income
communities.
(ii) Develop and enforce rules, regulations, guidance,
standards, policies, plans and practices that promote
environmental justice.
(iii) Increase cooperation and require coordination among
Commonwealth agencies in achieving environmental justice.
(iv) Mitigate the inequitable distribution of the burdens
and benefits of Commonwealth programs having significant impacts
on human health and the environment.
(v) Provide guidance regarding criteria for identifying
disproportionately high and adverse human health or
environmental effects on communities of color and low-income
communities and the environmental impact on communities on the
basis of race, color, national origin or income.
(3) If appropriate, to assist all State agencies in
examining new regulations and policies involving State action or
the appropriation of money related to the impact those actions
and resources have on environmental justice prior to adopting a
regulation or policy.
(4) To provide to communities of color and low-income
communities greater access to public information and
opportunities for participation in decision making effecting
human health and the environment.
(5) To receive comments, conc