1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to environment; establishing the Legislative Environmental Justice 
1.3 	Commission; providing appointments;proposing coding for new law in Minnesota 
1.4 	Statutes, chapter 3.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. [3.8865] LEGISLATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMISSION.
1.7 		Subdivision 1.Establishment. A Legislative Environmental Justice Commission is 
1.8 	established.
1.9 		Subd. 2.Environmental justice principle. The state of Minnesota acknowledges the 
1.10 	historical and disproportionately high or adverse effects of environmental pollution on 
1.11 	certain communities based on race, color, national origin, geography, and economic status. 
1.12 	The Legislative Environmental Justice Commission must strive for the fair treatment and 
1.13 	meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or economic 
1.14 	status with respect to developing, implementing, and enforcing environmental laws, 
1.15 	regulations, and policies.
1.16 		Subd. 3.Membership. (a) The Legislative Environmental Justice Commission consists 
1.17 	of 12 members appointed as follows:
1.18 	(1) six members of the senate, including three majority party members appointed by the 
1.19 	majority leader and three minority party members appointed by the minority leader; and
1.20 	(2) six members of the house of representatives, including three majority party members 
1.21 	appointed by the speaker of the house and three minority party members appointed by the 
1.22 	minority leader.
2.1 	(b) Members serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority and continue to serve until 
2.2 	their successors are appointed or until a member is no longer a member of the legislative 
2.3 	body that appointed the member to the commission. Vacancies must be filled in the same 
2.4 	manner as the original positions. Vacancies occurring on the commission do not affect the 
2.5 	authority of the remaining members of the Legislative Environmental Justice Commission 
2.6 	to carry out the functions of the commission.
2.7 	(c) Members must elect a chair, vice chair, and other officers as determined by the 
2.8 	commission. The chair may convene meetings as necessary to conduct the duties prescribed 
2.9 	by this section.
2.10 		Subd. 4.Commission staffing. The Legislative Coordinating Commission must employ 
2.11 	staff and contract with consultants as necessary to enable the Legislative Environmental 
2.12 	Justice Commission to carry out its duties and functions.
2.13 		Subd. 5.Powers and duties. (a) The Legislative Environmental Justice Commission 
2.14 	must:
2.15 	(1) review and analyze the impact of state laws, rules, and policies on environmental 
2.16 	justice;
2.17 	(2) assess the adequacy of state laws to address environmental justice;
2.18 	(3) develop criteria to assess whether communities in the state may be experiencing 
2.19 	environmental justice issues;
2.20 	(4) recommend options to the legislature for addressing issues, concerns, or problems 
2.21 	related to environmental justice, including prioritizing areas of the state that need immediate 
2.22 	attention; and
2.23 	(5) investigate incidents where environmental justice issues have arisen.
2.24 	(b) The commission may conduct public hearings and otherwise secure data and 
2.25 	comments.
2.26 	(c) Data or information compiled by the commission or its subcommittees must be made 
2.27 	available to the standing and interim committees of the legislature on request of the chair 
2.28 	of the respective committee.
2.29 		Subd. 6.Compensation. Members of the commission may receive per diem and expense 
2.30 	reimbursement incurred doing the work of the commission in the manner and amount 
2.31 	prescribed for per diem and expense payments by the senate Committee on Rules and 
3.1 	Administration and the house of representatives Committee on Rules and Legislative 
3.2 	Administration.
3.3 		Subd. 7.Expiration. This section expires July 1, 2023.