Establishes the university of the state of New York environmental sustainability office to lead the coordination, planning and implementation of policies, programs, and processes to fulfill the university's sustainability obligations and targets cohesively, across all university campuses, and at the system level.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A6348
SPONSOR: Valdez TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to establishing the
university of the state of New York environmental sustainability office
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
The purpose of this bill is to create an environmental sustainability
office in the State University of New York ("SUNY") system to implement
positive environmental policies and procedures at all SUNY campuses.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Adds a new Section 235-c to the Education Law, establishing
an Environmental Sustainability Office at the State University of New
York. This office will coordinate, plan, and implement policies,
programs, and processes to meet the university's sustainability require-
ments and targets on all campuses and at the system level. The sustaina-
bility requirements include, but are not limited to, reducing energy
consumption, preventing waste, attaining material circularity, lowering
carbon emissions, promoting social fairness and justice, and developing
engagement and outreach strategies in these and other sustainability
focus areas.
The office of the Director of Environmental Sustainability will be
chosen by the regents with the following powers and duties:
Lead and advocate for sustainability at university and system levels,
establishing standards in areas such as clean energy and zero waste.
Utilize insights from various campuses to pilot and advance initiatives
while collaborating with state departments for operational alignment.
Increase investment to maximize returns and meet sustainability goals.
Develop strategies for monitoring and evaluating projects, and ensure
sustainability is integrated into procurement processes.
Oversee goal-setting, staff supervision, and budget management for the
Environmental Sustainability Office.
Section 2: Sets the act to take effect on the ninetieth day after it
becomes law.
JUSTIFICATION:
Environmental sustainability is critical for conserving natural
resources and protecting global ecosystems in order to ensure health and
well-being for future generations. The new office will organize, plan,
and implement policies and programs to meet various sustainability,
commitments on all university campuses and at the system level. The
Director of Environmental Sustainability, who will be responsible for
setting sustainability standards, will leverage expertise across campus-
es, collaborate with state agencies, and represent the university's
sustainability goals at the state and national levels.The advantages of
creating this office are numerous. It will strengthen the university's
reputation as a sustalnability leader, recruit students and staff who
are devoted to environmental stewardship, and help to achieve the larger
aim of reducing climate change. Furthermore, it will ensure that the
university's sustainability activities are in line with state and
national objectives, resulting in more effective and meaningful
outcomes. Support for sustainability projects is broad. Many colleges,
state and municipal governments, and charity organizations already work
together on sustainability initiatives, and the creation of this offi ce
will strengthen these connections and advance the university's leader-
ship in environmental sustainability.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-23: A4998 - Referred to Higher Education / S542-Referred to Higher
Education.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
To be determined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have
become a law.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
6348
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 4, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. VALDEZ -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to establishing the
university of the state of New York environmental sustainability
office
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 235-c
2 to read as follows:
3 § 235-c. Environmental sustainability office. 1. The regents shall
4 establish an environmental sustainability office within the university
5 of the state of New York to lead the coordination, planning and imple-
6 mentation of policies, programs, and processes to fulfill the universi-
7 ty's sustainability obligations and targets cohesively, across all
8 university campuses, and at the system level. Sustainability obligations
9 include, but are not limited to, reduction in energy use, prevention of
10 waste and achieving material circularity, carbon emissions reduction,
11 social equity and justice, and engagement and outreach strategies
12 included within these and other sustainability focus areas.
13 2. The head of the office shall be the director of environmental
14 sustainability who shall be appointed by the regents and have the
15 following powers and duties:
16 a. Lead institutional planning to fulfill university sustainability
17 commitments and represent the university's sustainability goals in
18 system-wide and campus level planning.
19 b. Set consistent sustainability standards, across a multitude of
20 related focus areas, system-wide, including but not limited to, system
21 and campus level clean energy master plans and zero waste circularity
22 plans.
23 c. Leverage expertise available across university campuses to pilot
24 and elevate sustainability programs, projects and research.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07846-01-5
A. 6348 2
1 d. Closely collaborate and coordinate with stakeholders across state
2 agencies to achieve operational sustainability alignment and feasibil-
3 ity.
4 e. Serve on state and national committees involved in creating poli-
5 cies and making decisions concerning sustainability.
6 f. Further the university's investment in sustainability across
7 campuses so as to maximize its return on investment, while achieving the
8 university's sustainability commitments.
9 g. Develop methods and processes to monitor performance and develop
10 and evaluate projects and programs concerning sustainability.
11 h. Assist the office of general services, and other relevant stake-
12 holders, in procurement of commodities and services that advance the
13 university's mission, while achieving sustainability goals, and ensure
14 that sustainability is a key component in the procurement of services
15 and products.
16 i. Direct the environmental sustainability office by setting perform-
17 ance goals prioritizing responsibilities, developing work processes,
18 supervising staff, creating a repository of resources, and managing the
19 budget of the office.
20 j. Provide expertise to campuses in need of direction and support in
21 pursuing sustainability-related projects and programs, and deliver
22 outreach, engagement, and training to campuses.
23 k. Guide sustainability measurement and data analysis at the universi-
24 ty system and campus levels. The director shall lead sustainability
25 performance reporting and advise on the development of performance indi-
26 cators on system-wide and on campuses to monitor progress towards goals.
27 l. Originate innovative fiscal and infrastructure solutions and evalu-
28 ate the feasibility of implementation across the university system, and
29 seek external funding and resources through advancement, grant writing,
30 and partnerships.
31 m. Develop processes for campus sustainability funds, including
32 project feasibility, budgeting, and monitoring progress, and manage the
33 fiscal solvency of such sustainability funds.
34 n. Oversee opportunities for student participation in sustainability
35 initiatives through internships and volunteer service, and further
36 curricular innovation and interdisciplinary programs.
37 o. Cooperate with other universities, state and local agencies, and
38 nonprofits that advance sustainability locally, regionally, nationally,
39 and internationally to further the university's leadership and advance
40 environmental sustainability externally.
41 p. Perform other related duties and special projects.
42 § 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
43 have become a law.
