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Title:Environmental Justice, Commission on
Website:Commission on Environmental Justice
Contact Name:Bridget Drea
Contact Title:Assistant to the Director, Illinois EPA
Contact Phone:Bridget.Drea@Illinois.gov
Function:
The principle of environmental justice requires that no segment of the population, regardless of race, national origin, age, or income, should bear disproportionately high or adverse effects of environmental pollution.

The Commission shall:
(1) advise State entities on environmental justice and related community issues

(2) review and analyze the impact of current State laws and policies on the issue of environmental justice and sustainable communities

(3) assess the adequacy of State and local laws to address the issue of environmental justice and sustainable communities

(4) develop criteria to assess whether communities in the State may be experiencing environmental justice issues

(5) recommend options to the Governor for addressing issues, concerns, or problems related to environmental justice that surface after reviewing State laws and policies, including prioritizing areas of the State that need immediate attention.

The Environmental Protection Agency shall provide administrative and other support to the Commission.
Term:Initial members: 5 shall serve for a 2-year term and 5 shall serve for a 1-year term; thereafter 2-year terms.
Senate Confirmation:No
Party Affiliation:N/A
Qualifications:(please see composition)
Compensation:None
Composition:
The Commission on Environmental Justice is established and consists of the following 24 voting members:

- 2 members of the Senate, one appointed by the President of the Senate and the other by the Minority Leader of the Senate, each to serve at the pleasure of the appointing officer

- 2 members of the House of Representatives, one appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the other by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, each to serve at the pleasure of the appointing officer

- The following ex officio members:
a representative of the housing office of the Department of Human Services,
the Director of Commerce and Economic Opportunity or his or her designee,
the Director of the Environmental Protection Agency or his or her designee,
the Director of Natural Resources or his or her designee,
the Director of Public Health or his or her designee, and
the Director of Transportation or his or her designee

- 14 members appointed by the Governor who represent the following interests:
(i) 4 members of affected communities concerned with environmental justice
(ii) at least 2 members business organizations (including one member representing a statewide organization representing manufacturers and one member representing an organization representing the energy sector);
(iii) environmental organizations
(iv) experts on environmental health and environmental justice
(v) units of local government
(vi) members of the general public who have an interest or expertise in environmental justice.
(vi) at least 2 members of labor organizations (including one member from a statewide labor federation representing more than one international union and one member from an organization representing workers in the energy sector).

Chair:Designated by the Governor
Authority:415 ILCS 155/10

 Member Names
Name (Last, First)Term ExpiresMember SinceAffiliationAppointed ByPositionTitleCounty
Amaal TokarsStatuteEx-Officio, Director, Public HealthNone
Bailey, Sen. Darren4/6/2021Senate Minority LeaderMemberNone
Callahan, ColleenStatuteEx-Officio, Director, DNRNone
Collins, Rep. Lakesia3/15/2021Speaker of the HouseMemberNone
Davis, Alec9/25/20193/23/2018GovernorMember, business organizationSangamon
Driskell, Millard9/25/20197/3/2013GovernorMember, publicCook
Garcia, SylviaStatuteEx-Officio, Director, DCEONone
Griffith, Donovan 9/25/20183/20/2018GovernorMember, business organizationSangamon
Harley, Keith9/25/202310/12/2012GovernorMember, expert on environmental justiceWill
Harris, Tonyisha9/25/20222/26/2021GovernorMember, environmental organizationCook
Hou, GraceSecretary, Department of Human Services
Johnson, Cheryl9/25/202310/12/2012GovernorMember, affected communities concerned with environmental justiceCook
Kim, JohnStatuteEx-Officio, Director of EPANone
Kyle, Veronica9/25/202010/12/2012GovernorMember, environmental organizationsCook
Norris, Gregory9/25/20194/20/2018GovernorMember, publicCook
Ortiz, Dulce9/25/202211/30/2020GovernorMember, of affected communities concerned with environmental justiceLake
Osman, OmerStatuteEx-Officio, Director of TransportationNone
VACANTHouse Minority LeaderNone
VACANTGovernorMember, experts on environmental health and environmental justiceNone
VACANTGovernorMember, labor organizationNone
VACANTGovernorMember, labor organization
Villanueva, Sen. Celina1/11/20234/22/2022Senate PresidentMemberNone
Wasserman, Kimberly9/25/202310/12/2012GovernorChair, affected communities concerned with environmental justiceCook
Wilson, Victoria9/25/20226/30/2021GovernorMember, of affected communities concerned with environmental justiceCook