Declares a policy of equal treatment of people of all races, cultures, religions, incomes, education levels, disabilities, gender identity/expression and sexual preference in the development and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations and policies.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
7924
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
August 4, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. SIMON, L. ROSENTHAL, THIELE, BURDICK, DINOWITZ,
SEAWRIGHT, DICKENS, SILLITTI -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
declaring a policy of equal treatment in the development and enforce-
ment of environmental laws, regulations and policies
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The opening paragraph of subdivision 1 of section 1-0101 of
2 the environmental conservation law is designated paragraph a and a new
3 paragraph b is added to read as follows:
4 b. It is further the policy of the state of New York that all people,
5 regardless of race, culture, national origin, income, gender identity or
6 expression, disability, or community of residence, shall be treated
7 equally with respect to the development, implementation and enforcement
8 of environmental laws, regulations and policies. It is a basic right of
9 all New Yorkers to live and work in safe, healthful, productive and
10 aesthetically and culturally pleasing surroundings. This policy of envi-
11 ronmental justice is based on the concept of fundamental fairness that
12 all people should be free from any disproportionate exposure or risk of
13 exposure to pollution, and from the cumulative negative impacts result-
14 ing from the disparate concentration of polluted sites or environmental
15 facilities licensed, regulated or approved by state agencies, nor should
16 people be deprived of locally accessible open space or other environ-
17 mental benefits due to lack of political or economic strength.
18 § 2. The opening paragraph of subdivision 3 of section 1-0101 of the
19 environmental conservation law is amended to read as follows:
20 It shall further be the policy of the state to foster, promote, create
21 and maintain conditions under which [man] people and nature can thrive
22 in harmony with each other, and achieve social, economic and technolog-
23 ical progress for present and future generations by:
24 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09801-01-3
