Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

State Government & Tribal Relations Committee

2SSB 5489

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Description: Establishing a healthy environment for all by addressing environmental health disparities.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Saldaña, Das, Nguyen, Hasegawa, Darneille, Palumbo, Randall, McCoy, Conway, Billig, Cleveland, Keiser, Kuderer, Rolfes, Wilson, C. and Frockt).

Brief Summary of Second Substitute Bill

  • Creates a task force to recommend various strategies for incorporating environmental justice principles into how certain agencies discharge their responsibilities.

  • Requires certain state agencies to adopt a cumulative impact analysis to identify highly impacted communities.

  • Requires the Department of Health to develop model policies for the implementation of task force recommendations related to the cumulative impact analysis.

Hearing Date: 3/19/19

Staff: Desiree Omli (786-7105).

Background:

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines environmental justice as the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. The EPA states that this goal will be achieved when everyone enjoys the same degree of protection from environmental health hazards, and equal access to the decision-making process to have a healthy environment in which to live, learn, and work.

In 1994 President Clinton signed Executive Order 12898, which directed federal agencies to make achieving environmental justice part of their agency missions by identifying and addressing disproportionately high or adverse environmental or human health effects of agency programs, policies, and activities on minority and low-income populations. In 2011 the Federal Environmental Justice Interagency Working Group established a Title VI Committee to address the intersection of agencies' environmental justice efforts with their Title VI enforcement and compliance responsibilities. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination in all federally assisted programs, on the grounds of race, color, or national origin.

At the state level, the Department of Ecology (ECY) has established a full-time environmental justice coordinator role and developed an environmental justice and Title VI review checklist for rulemaking. In addition, the Board of Health works on reducing health disparities, including those related to environmental justice.

Summary of Bill:

Task Force Created.

Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated, a task force is created to recommend strategies for incorporating environmental justice principles into how certain state agencies discharge their responsibilities. The task force includes the following members:

The Chair of the Council and the appointed member with expertise in statewide environmental justice issues will serve as co-chairs. The Council must provide staff support for the task force, but the Council may work with other agencies as necessary to provide staff support.

Task Force Duties.

The task force must report to the Legislature and the Governor by October 31, 2020. The report must include the following:

The report may include:

The task force must hold four regional meetings throughout the state and may form work groups or consult with stakeholders as necessary.

State Agency Requirements.

State agencies represented on the task force must use all practicable means and measures to promote environmental justice and fair treatment. Environmental justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. Fair treatment means that no group of people, including racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic groups, should bear disproportionately high exposure to pollution or adverse human health or environmental impacts and all groups of people have appropriate access to meaningful public participation in decisions that affect their environment.

Each state agency with representation on the task force must adopt the cumulative impact analysis and use it in accordance with the recommended guidelines provided by the task force.

Within 60 days of the task force issuing its initial report, the Department of Health must initiate a process to develop model policies for the purpose of providing uniform rules, policies, or guidelines to state agencies implementing task force recommendations relating to the cumulative impact analysis.

The state may also issue or adopt policies or guidance, or adopt rules, to identify highly impacted communities, establish measurable goals for reducing environmental health disparities, and prioritize highly impacted communities and their vulnerable populations.

The specified state agencies must notify the Council upon adoption of rules, policies, or guidelines related to the cumulative impact analysis. One year after such adoption of rules, policies, or guidelines by the relevant agencies, and two years thereafter, each agency must report to the Council, Governor, and the Legislature regarding progress made towards reducing disproportionate environmental burdens and attaining environmental health targets. The reports must be available on the Council's website.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.