74th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2007 Regular Session
Enrolled
Senate Bill 420
Sponsored by Senator GORDLY
CHAPTER ................
AN ACT
Relating to environmental justice.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1. { + For purposes of sections 1 to 5 of this 2007
Act, ' natural resource agency' means the Department of
Environmental Quality, the State Department of Agriculture, the
Water Resources Department, the State Department of Fish and
Wildlife, the State Forestry Department, the Department of State
Lands, the Department of Education, the State Department of
Geology and Mineral Industries, the Department of Land
Conservation and Development, the State Marine Board, the Public
Utility Commission, the Department of Transportation, the State
Fire Marshal and the Department of Human Services. + }
SECTION 2. { + (1) There is established the Environmental
Justice Task Force consisting of 12 members appointed by the
Governor. The members shall be persons who are well-informed on
the principles of environmental justice and who, to the greatest
extent practicable, represent minority communities, low-income
communities, environmental interests, industry groups and
geographically diverse areas of the state. Of the 12 members, the
Governor shall appoint one member of the task force from each of
the following commissions:
(a) The Commission on Asian Affairs;
(b) The Commission on Black Affairs;
(c) The Commission on Hispanic Affairs; and
(d) The Commission on Indian Services.
(2) The task force shall submit an annual report to the
Governor setting forth its view of the progress of natural
resource agencies toward achieving the goals established pursuant
to section 3 of this 2007 Act and identifying any other
environmental issues that the task force determines need
attention.
(3) The term of office of each member is four years, but a
member serves at the pleasure of the Governor. Before the
expiration of the term of a member, the Governor shall appoint a
successor whose term begins on January 1 of the following year. A
member may be reappointed. If there is a vacancy for any cause,
the Governor shall make an appointment to become immediately
effective for the unexpired term.
(4) A member of the task force who is not a member of the
Legislative Assembly is entitled to compensation and expenses in
the manner and amounts provided for in ORS 292.495. Claims for
compensation and expenses incurred in performing functions of the
Enrolled Senate Bill 420 (SB 420-INTRO) Page 1
task force shall be paid out of funds appropriated to the
Governor for that purpose.
(5) The task force shall elect one of its members as a
chairperson and another as vice chairperson, for the terms and
with the duties and powers necessary for the performance of the
functions of such offices as the task force determines.
(6) A majority of the members of the task force constitutes a
quorum for the transaction of business.
(7) The task force shall meet at least once every three months
at times and places specified by the chairperson. The task force
also shall meet at other times and places specified by the call
of the chairperson or of a majority of the members of the task
force.
(8) The Governor shall provide the task force with the
necessary clerical and administrative staff support.
(9) Natural resource agencies are directed to assist the task
force in the performance of its duties and, to the extent
permitted by laws relating to confidentiality, to furnish such
information and advice as the members of the task force consider
necessary to perform their duties.
(10) A member of the task force who is a member of the
Legislative Assembly may serve in an advisory capacity only. + }
SECTION 3. { + The Environmental Justice Task Force shall:
(1) Advise the Governor on environmental justice issues;
(2) Advise natural resource agencies on environmental justice
issues, including community concerns and public participation
processes;
(3) Identify, in cooperation with natural resource agencies,
minority and low-income communities that may be affected by
environmental decisions made by the agencies;
(4) Meet with environmental justice communities and make
recommendations to the Governor regarding concerns raised by
these communities; and
(5) Define environmental justice issues in the state. + }
SECTION 4. { + In order to provide greater public
participation and to ensure that all persons affected by
decisions of the natural resource agencies have a voice in those
decisions, each natural resource agency shall:
(1) In making a determination whether and how to act, consider
the effects of the action on environmental justice issues.
(2) Hold hearings at times and in locations that are convenient
for people in the communities that will be affected by the
decisions stemming from the hearings.
(3) Engage in public outreach activities in the communities
that will be affected by decisions of the agency.
(4) Create a citizen advocate position that is responsible for:
(a) Encouraging public participation;
(b) Ensuring that the agency considers environmental justice
issues; and
(c) Informing the agency of the effect of its decisions on
communities traditionally underrepresented in public
processes. + }
SECTION 5. { + All directors of natural resource agencies, and
other agency directors as the Governor may designate, shall
report annually to the Environmental Justice Task Force and to
the Governor on the results of the agencies' efforts to:
(1) Address environmental justice issues;
(2) Increase public participation of individuals and
communities affected by agencies' decisions;
Enrolled Senate Bill 420 (SB 420-INTRO) Page 2
(3) Determine the effect of the agencies' decisions on
traditionally underrepresented communities; and
(4) Improve plans to further the progress of environmental
justice in Oregon. + }
SECTION 6. { + Notwithstanding the term of office specified in
section 2 of this 2007 Act, of the members first appointed to the
Environmental Justice Task Force under section 2 of this 2007
Act:
(1) Four shall serve for terms ending June 30, 2009.
(2) Four shall serve for terms ending June 30, 2010.
(3) Four shall serve for terms ending June 30, 2011. + }
----------
Passed by Senate June 19, 2007
...........................................................
Secretary of Senate
...........................................................
President of Senate
Passed by House June 28, 2007
...........................................................
Speaker of House
Enrolled Senate Bill 420 (SB 420-INTRO) Page 3
Received by Governor:
......M.,............., 2007
Approved:
......M.,............., 2007
...........................................................
Governor
Filed in Office of Secretary of State:
......M.,............., 2007
...........................................................
Secretary of State
Enrolled Senate Bill 420 (SB 420-INTRO) Page 4