Bill Text: NY S02003 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Establishes a chief sustainability officer to coordinate efforts across state agencies and other state government entities to address climate change mitigation and climate sustainability efforts.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-06-05 - SUBSTITUTED BY A5909A [S02003 Detail]

Download: New_York-2023-S02003-Introduced.html



                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________

                                          2003

                               2023-2024 Regular Sessions

                    IN SENATE

                                    January 18, 2023
                                       ___________

        Introduced  by  Sen.  MAY  --  read  twice and ordered printed, and when
          printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance

        AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to establishing an office
          of sustainability

          The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and  Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:

     1    Section  1.  The executive law is amended by adding a new section 94-d
     2  to read as follows:
     3    § 94-d. Office of sustainability.  1. Purpose. It shall be the purpose
     4  of the office to coordinate efforts across all agencies and other  state
     5  government  entities  to  address  climate change mitigation and climate
     6  sustainability efforts.
     7    2. Definitions.  For the purposes of this section "office" shall  mean
     8  the office of sustainability created pursuant to this section.
     9    3.  Office  of sustainability; chief sustainability officer.  There is
    10  hereby created within the department of state an office of sustainabili-
    11  ty. The secretary shall appoint a chief sustainability  officer  of  the
    12  office  to  accomplish the duties set forth in this section.  Such chief
    13  sustainability officer shall receive an  annual  salary  within  amounts
    14  appropriated and shall serve at the pleasure of the secretary.
    15    4.  Organization of the office.  The secretary shall have the power to
    16  establish, consolidate, reorganize, or abolish any organizational  units
    17  within  the  office  as they determine to be necessary for the efficient
    18  operation of such office.  The secretary shall assign functions  to  any
    19  such  unit  and  may  appoint  staff, agents, and consultants, prescribe
    20  their duties, and fix their compensation within amounts appropriated.
    21    5. Powers and duties of the office.  The office shall have  the  power
    22  and duty to:
    23    (a) Review rules and regulations of state agencies and submit proposed
    24  amendments  and/or additions of such rules and regulations to such agen-
    25  cies for consideration that the chief sustainability officer shall  deem

         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD00500-01-3

        S. 2003                             2

     1  appropriate  or  necessary  to help mitigate negative impacts of climate
     2  change and promote climate sustainability;
     3    (b) Coordinate policy to promote energy and environmental sustainabil-
     4  ity  across state government operations, including the office of general
     5  services, the New York state energy research and development  authority,
     6  the  department  of  environmental  conservation,  and the department of
     7  state;
     8    (c) Work with state  agencies  and  departments  to  ensure  effective
     9  implementation and achievement of statutory requirements and state goals
    10  related to energy and environmental protection;
    11    (d)  Coordinate  implementation of programs and initiatives to improve
    12  state facility and vehicle fleet efficiency, promote adoption of  energy
    13  efficient technologies, and modernize state facilities and operations;
    14    (e)  Design  and  share with state agencies and departments strategies
    15  that can be used to leverage state facilities and assets to advance  the
    16  conservation  of  natural  resources  and  highlight best environmental,
    17  technological and policy strategies to reach the  highest  energy  effi-
    18  ciency standards reasonably possible;
    19    (f)  Develop sustainable practices to plan for and mitigate enterprise
    20  risks while reducing waste and to help strengthen commercial,  cultural,
    21  and political cooperation and engagement;
    22    (g)  Advise other state agencies and departments in best practices for
    23  environmental  regulatory  compliance,   reporting,   partnerships   and
    24  outreach, and environmental sustainability innovation;
    25    (h)  Assist  the  department  of  state in reducing its use of natural
    26  resources through improving energy and water efficiency,  and  providing
    27  data and tools that protect the health of the state government's person-
    28  nel and employees and their families;
    29    (i) Partner with private sector businesses, public and private univer-
    30  sities,  and government agencies to improve environmental sustainability
    31  across the state;
    32    (j) Participate in inter-agency working groups that  develop  environ-
    33  mental requirements and guidance for state agencies;
    34    (k)  Act  as  a  representative of New York state at the United States
    35  Climate Alliance and  other  national  and  international  organizations
    36  focused  on  climate  science and sustainability research and goals that
    37  the chief sustainability officer shall deem appropriate;
    38    (l) Inform the governor, secretary, legislature,  and  state  agencies
    39  and  other governmental entities of the latest research and developments
    40  in the field of climate science; and
    41    (m) Advise and assist the New York state climate action council estab-
    42  lished pursuant to section 75-0103 of the environmental conservation law
    43  in such duties of such council that  the  chief  sustainability  officer
    44  shall deem appropriate.
    45    §  2. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeed-
    46  ing the date on which it shall have become a law.
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