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A06348 Summary:

BILL NOA06348
 
SAME ASSAME AS S06798
 
SPONSORValdez
 
COSPNSR
 
MLTSPNSR
 
Add §235-c, Ed L
 
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.
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A06348 Memo:

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.
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A06348 Text:



 
                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.
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