Ch. 741 1997 LAWS OF MARYLAND

System for State participants to the accumulation funds of the Employees' Retirement
System and the Employees' Pension System for participating governmental unit
participants.

SECTION 2. 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
July 1, 1997.

Approved May 22, 1997.

CHAPTER 741
(House Bill 1350)

AN ACT concerning

Citizens Advisory Council on Environmental Justice

FOR the purpose of establishing a Citizens an Advisory Council on Environmental
Justice; establishing the membership, duties, purposes, and staffing of the Advisory
Council; requiring the Advisory Council to develop a draft State Policy issue a
report on Environmental Justice; requiring the Advisory Council to make a report
to certain persons by a certain date; providing for the effective date and termination
of this Act; and generally relating to the Citizens Advisory Council on
Environmental Justice.

BY adding to

Article 41 - Governor - Executive and Administrative Departments

Section 18-313

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1997 Replacement Volume)

Preamble

WHEREAS, The General Assembly recognizes the importance of equal protection
welfare and environment; and

WHEREAS, Historical decisions on land use and siting of industrial development
and its byproducts have placed an inordinate burden of environmental degradation on
communities disadvantaged by ethnic background, low income, and ignorance; and

WHEREAS, These decisions are perpetuated based on the current environmental
and economic conditions of these communities, giving rise to issues of environmental
justice; and

WHEREAS, The State of Maryland has made significant efforts to support the
redevelopment of brownfields areas, in order to clean up the degraded environment of
affected communities and to provide new economic opportunities in those communities
while preserving pristine areas from sprawl and pollution; and

- 4204 -