The New York State Senate

 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   10001
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                              April 29, 2022
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  CUNNINGHAM  -- read once and referred to the
   Committee on Environmental Conservation
 
 AN ACT in relation to directing the department of environmental  conser-
   vation in conjunction with the environmental justice interagency coor-
   dinating  council to conduct a study on the disproportionate impact of
   increased heat in primarily Black and Latino neighborhoods

   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1. The department of environmental conservation, in consulta-
 tion with the environmental justice  interagency  coordinating  council,
 shall  conduct a study on the effects of the urban heat island effect on
 majority Black and Latino neighborhoods in  urban  settings  within  the
 state that fit the description of heat islands.
   § 2. For the purposes of this study:
   (a)  Black  and  Latino  neighborhoods shall be characterized as those
 comprised of fifty-one percent or more of Black residents, Latino  resi-
 dents  or  a  combination  of  both.  The study shall analyze the health
 impacts of increased heat in these neighborhoods in comparison to  those
 of White neighborhoods.
   (b)  "urban heat island effect" means the phenomenon when pavement and
 other infrastructure absorbs and stores large quantities of solar  radi-
 ation during the day and releases it during the nighttime, leading to an
 increase in the surface temperatures of the immediate area.
   (c)  "heat  islands"  means  urbanized  areas  that  experience higher
 temperatures than outlying areas due to structures  such  as  buildings,
 roads,  and other infrastructure absorbing and reemitting the sun's heat
 more than natural landscapes such as forests  and  water  bodies.  Urban
 areas,  where  these  structures are highly concentrated and greenery is
 limited, become "islands" of higher temperatures  relative  to  outlying
 areas.
   § 3. The department of environmental conservation shall deliver to the
 governor,  the legislature, and make available to the public a report of
 its findings no later than eighteen months after the effective  date  of
 this act.
   § 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets

                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD14866-01-2

 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                 10001--A
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                              April 29, 2022
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  CUNNINGHAM  -- read once and referred to the
   Committee on Environmental Conservation -- committee discharged,  bill
   amended,  ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said commit-
   tee
 
 AN ACT in relation to directing the department of environmental  conser-
   vation in conjunction with the environmental justice interagency coor-
   dinating  council  and  the climate justice working group to conduct a
   study on the impacts of urban island effect on disadvantaged  communi-
   ties
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The department of environmental conservation, in  consulta-
 tion with the environmental justice interagency coordinating council and
 the  climate justice working group, shall conduct a study on the impacts
 of the urban heat island effect on disadvantaged communities. The  study
 shall  at  a  minimum,  identify  urban  disadvantaged  communities with
 concentrations of heat islands, include recommendations on how to  iden-
 tify,  prevent and address adverse health and environmental impacts from
 urban heat island effects, and include existing or  recommended  funding
 available to address such impacts.
   § 2. For the purposes of this study:
   (a)  "Disadvantaged communities" shall mean communities that are iden-
 tified pursuant to section 75-0111  of  the  environmental  conservation
 law.
   (b)  "Urban heat island effect" means the phenomenon when pavement and
 other infrastructure absorbs and stores large quantities of solar  radi-
 ation during the day and releases it during the nighttime, leading to an
 increase in the surface temperatures of the immediate area.
   (c)  "Heat  islands"  means  urbanized  areas  that  experience higher
 temperatures than outlying areas due to structures  such  as  buildings,
 roads,  and other infrastructure absorbing and reemitting the sun's heat
 more than natural landscapes such as forests  and  water  bodies.  Urban
 areas,  where  these  structures are highly concentrated and greenery is

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD14866-02-2

 A. 10001--A                         2
 
 limited, become "islands" of higher temperatures  relative  to  outlying
 areas.
   § 3. The department of environmental conservation shall deliver to the
 governor,  the  legislature, and post on its public website, a report of
 its findings no later than eighteen months after the effective  date  of
 this act.
   § 4. This act shall take effect immediately.