S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
4998
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
February 27, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. WALLACE -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee 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:
Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 235-c
to read as follows:
§ 235-C. ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY OFFICE. 1. THE REGENTS SHALL
ESTABLISH AN ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY OFFICE WITHIN THE UNIVERSITY
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK TO LEAD THE COORDINATION, PLANNING AND IMPLE-
MENTATION OF POLICIES, PROGRAMS, AND PROCESSES TO FULFILL THE UNIVERSI-
TY'S SUSTAINABILITY OBLIGATIONS AND TARGETS COHESIVELY, ACROSS ALL
UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES, AND AT THE SYSTEM LEVEL. SUSTAINABILITY OBLIGATIONS
INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO, REDUCTION IN ENERGY USE, PREVENTION OF
WASTE AND ACHIEVING MATERIAL CIRCULARITY, CARBON EMISSIONS REDUCTION,
SOCIAL EQUITY AND JUSTICE, AND ENGAGEMENT AND OUTREACH STRATEGIES
INCLUDED WITHIN THESE AND OTHER SUSTAINABILITY FOCUS AREAS.
2. THE HEAD OF THE OFFICE SHALL BE THE DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL
SUSTAINABILITY WHO SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE REGENTS AND HAVE THE
FOLLOWING POWERS AND DUTIES:
A. LEAD INSTITUTIONAL PLANNING TO FULFILL UNIVERSITY SUSTAINABILITY
COMMITMENTS AND REPRESENT THE UNIVERSITY'S SUSTAINABILITY GOALS IN
SYSTEM-WIDE AND CAMPUS LEVEL PLANNING.
B. SET CONSISTENT SUSTAINABILITY STANDARDS, ACROSS A MULTITUDE OF
RELATED FOCUS AREAS, SYSTEM-WIDE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, SYSTEM
AND CAMPUS LEVEL CLEAN ENERGY MASTER PLANS AND ZERO WASTE CIRCULARITY
PLANS.
C. LEVERAGE EXPERTISE AVAILABLE ACROSS UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES TO PILOT
AND ELEVATE SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAMS, PROJECTS AND RESEARCH.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02228-01-3
A. 4998 2
D. CLOSELY COLLABORATE AND COORDINATE WITH STAKEHOLDERS ACROSS STATE
AGENCIES TO ACHIEVE OPERATIONAL SUSTAINABILITY ALIGNMENT AND FEASIBIL-
ITY.
E. SERVE ON STATE AND NATIONAL COMMITTEES INVOLVED IN CREATING POLI-
CIES AND MAKING DECISIONS CONCERNING SUSTAINABILITY.
F. FURTHER THE UNIVERSITY'S INVESTMENT IN SUSTAINABILITY ACROSS
CAMPUSES SO AS TO MAXIMIZE ITS RETURN ON INVESTMENT, WHILE ACHIEVING THE
UNIVERSITY'S SUSTAINABILITY COMMITMENTS.
G. DEVELOP METHODS AND PROCESSES TO MONITOR PERFORMANCE AND DEVELOP
AND EVALUATE PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS CONCERNING SUSTAINABILITY.
H. ASSIST THE OFFICE OF GENERAL SERVICES, AND OTHER RELEVANT STAKE-
HOLDERS, IN PROCUREMENT OF COMMODITIES AND SERVICES THAT ADVANCE THE
UNIVERSITY'S MISSION, WHILE ACHIEVING SUSTAINABILITY GOALS, AND ENSURE
THAT SUSTAINABILITY IS A KEY COMPONENT IN THE PROCUREMENT OF SERVICES
AND PRODUCTS.
I. DIRECT THE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY OFFICE BY SETTING PERFORM-
ANCE GOALS PRIORITIZING RESPONSIBILITIES, DEVELOPING WORK PROCESSES,
SUPERVISING STAFF, CREATING A REPOSITORY OF RESOURCES, AND MANAGING THE
BUDGET OF THE OFFICE.
J. PROVIDE EXPERTISE TO CAMPUSES IN NEED OF DIRECTION AND SUPPORT IN
PURSUING SUSTAINABILITY-RELATED PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS, AND DELIVER
OUTREACH, ENGAGEMENT, AND TRAINING TO CAMPUSES.
K. GUIDE SUSTAINABILITY MEASUREMENT AND DATA ANALYSIS AT THE UNIVERSI-
TY SYSTEM AND CAMPUS LEVELS. THE DIRECTOR SHALL LEAD SUSTAINABILITY
PERFORMANCE REPORTING AND ADVISE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF PERFORMANCE INDI-
CATORS ON SYSTEM-WIDE AND ON CAMPUSES TO MONITOR PROGRESS TOWARDS GOALS.
L. ORIGINATE INNOVATIVE FISCAL AND INFRASTRUCTURE SOLUTIONS AND EVALU-
ATE THE FEASIBILITY OF IMPLEMENTATION ACROSS THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM, AND
SEEK EXTERNAL FUNDING AND RESOURCES THROUGH ADVANCEMENT, GRANT WRITING,
AND PARTNERSHIPS.
M. DEVELOP PROCESSES FOR CAMPUS SUSTAINABILITY FUNDS, INCLUDING
PROJECT FEASIBILITY, BUDGETING, AND MONITORING PROGRESS, AND MANAGE THE
FISCAL SOLVENCY OF SUCH SUSTAINABILITY FUNDS.
N. OVERSEE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENT PARTICIPATION IN SUSTAINABILITY
INITIATIVES THROUGH INTERNSHIPS AND VOLUNTEER SERVICE, AND FURTHER
CURRICULAR INNOVATION AND INTERDISCIPLINARY PROGRAMS.
O. COOPERATE WITH OTHER UNIVERSITIES, STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES, AND
NONPROFITS THAT ADVANCE SUSTAINABILITY LOCALLY, REGIONALLY, NATIONALLY,
AND INTERNATIONALLY TO FURTHER THE UNIVERSITY'S LEADERSHIP AND ADVANCE
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY EXTERNALLY.
P. PERFORM OTHER RELATED DUTIES AND SPECIAL PROJECTS.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
have become a law.