HB 1347: Comm.-based health assess.

Summary

• Requires the Department of Health (DOH) to initiate at least 10 annual community-based health assessments, based on a prioritized list developed by the Environmental Justice Council (EJC), at least five of which should include tribal nations, if five or more tribal nations have requested assessments to be carried out.
• Requires covered agencies subject to the 2021 environmental justice law to provide updated lists to the EJC of communities identified as overburdened by each covered agency, and to consider the results of community based health assessments in addressing community impacts identified during environmental justice assessments.
• Requires covered agencies subject to environmental justice assessment requirements to conduct community-based health assessments in certain circumstances.
• Requires the EJC to identify priority council-designated overburdened communities that multiple covered agencies have also identified.
• Authorizes the expenditures of funds from two Climate Commitment Act Accounts for purposes of community-based health assessments.
• Requires consideration and mitigation of disparate environmental and health disparities in council-designated overburdened communities under the State Environmental Policy Act.

From the House Bill Analysis 2023 (HB 1347), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗