{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/2.2-2699.12.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/2.2-2699.12.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/2.2-2699.12.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/2.2-2699.12.html"}],"law_id":67963,"edition_id":1,"section_id":67963,"structure_id":14207,"section_number":"2.2-2699.12","catch_line":"Powers and duties of the Council","history":"2020, cc. 113, 1274.","full_text":"The Council shall have the following powers and duties:\n\n1\n\nAdvise and provide recommendations to the Governor regarding the development of policies and procedures, focusing on equality and equity, to ensure that environmental justice issues are heard and addressed as the Commonwealth evolves, as impacts of climate change increase, and as new environmental justice issues emerge. The Council shall provide advice and recommendations to the Governor and his cabinet on:\n\t\t\ta. Integrating environmental justice considerations throughout the Commonwealth’s programs, regulations, policies, and procedures;\n\t\t\tb. Strengthening partnerships on environmental justice among governmental agencies, including federal, tribal, and local governments;\n\t\t\tc. Incorporating potential solutions to environmental justice issues related to stakeholder communication, local governments, climate change and resilience, transportation, clean energy, outdoor access, and cultural preservation;\n\t\t\td. Enhancing research and assessment approaches related to environmental justice and identifying potential risks or disproportionate public health impacts related to environmental pollution, particularly those that threaten or could threaten low-income and historically underserved communities;\n\t\t\te. Receiving comments, concerns, and recommendations from individuals throughout the Commonwealth; and\n\t\t\tf. Recommending statutory, regulatory, or executive action, or relevant improvements or additions, for consideration to better address environmental justice issues.2\n\nSubmit an annual report to the Governor and the General Assembly for publication as a report document as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports. The chairperson shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly an annual executive summary of the interim activity and work of the Council no later than the first day of each regular session of the General Assembly starting in 2021. The executive summary shall be submitted as a report document as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly’s website.3\n\nApply for, accept, and expend gifts, grants, or donations from public, quasi-public, or private sources, including any matching funds designated in an appropriation act, to enable it to better carry out its objectives.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":246105,"text":"The Council shall have the following powers and duties:","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":"1"},"1":{"id":246106,"text":"Advise and provide recommendations to the Governor regarding the development of policies and procedures, focusing on equality and equity, to ensure that environmental justice issues are heard and addressed as the Commonwealth evolves, as impacts of climate change increase, and as new environmental justice issues emerge. The Council shall provide advice and recommendations to the Governor and his cabinet on:\n\t\t\ta. Integrating environmental justice considerations throughout the Commonwealth’s programs, regulations, policies, and procedures;\n\t\t\tb. Strengthening partnerships on environmental justice among governmental agencies, including federal, tribal, and local governments;\n\t\t\tc. Incorporating potential solutions to environmental justice issues related to stakeholder communication, local governments, climate change and resilience, transportation, clean energy, outdoor access, and cultural preservation;\n\t\t\td. Enhancing research and assessment approaches related to environmental justice and identifying potential risks or disproportionate public health impacts related to environmental pollution, particularly those that threaten or could threaten low-income and historically underserved communities;\n\t\t\te. Receiving comments, concerns, and recommendations from individuals throughout the Commonwealth; and\n\t\t\tf. Recommending statutory, regulatory, or executive action, or relevant improvements or additions, for consideration to better address environmental justice issues.","type":"section","prefixes":["1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"1","prefix_anchor":"1","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":"2"},"2":{"id":246107,"text":"Submit an annual report to the Governor and the General Assembly for publication as a report document as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports. The chairperson shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly an annual executive summary of the interim activity and work of the Council no later than the first day of each regular session of the General Assembly starting in 2021. The executive summary shall be submitted as a report document as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly’s website.","type":"section","prefixes":["2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"2","prefix_anchor":"2","level":1,"prior_prefix":"1","next_prefix":"3"},"3":{"id":246108,"text":"Apply for, accept, and expend gifts, grants, or donations from public, quasi-public, or private sources, including any matching funds designated in an appropriation act, to enable it to better carry out its objectives.","type":"section","prefixes":["3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"3","prefix_anchor":"3","level":1,"prior_prefix":"2"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14207,"edition_id":1,"name":"Virginia Council on Environmental Justice","identifier":"36","label":"article","depth":5,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12930,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:47:16","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:47:16","permalink":{"id":175413,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14207,"identifier":"36","token":"2.2\/I\/D\/26\/36","url":"\/2.2\/I\/D\/26\/36\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12930,"edition_id":1,"name":"Councils","identifier":"26","label":"chapter","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12785,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:02","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:02","permalink":{"id":175183,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12930,"identifier":"26","token":"2.2\/I\/D\/26","url":"\/2.2\/I\/D\/26\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12785,"edition_id":1,"name":"State Authorities, Boards, Commissions, Councils, Foundations and Other Collegial Bodies","identifier":"D","label":"part","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12784,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:53","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:53","permalink":{"id":173913,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12785,"identifier":"D","token":"2.2\/I\/D","url":"\/2.2\/I\/D\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12784,"edition_id":1,"name":"Organization of State Government","identifier":"I","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12749,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:53","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:53","permalink":{"id":171455,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12784,"identifier":"I","token":"2.2\/I","url":"\/2.2\/I\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12749,"edition_id":1,"name":"Administration of Government","identifier":"2.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":171453,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12749,"identifier":"2.2","token":"2.2","url":"\/2.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":67329,"structure_id":14207,"section_number":"2.2-2699.10","catch_line":"Membership; terms; quorum; meetings","url":"\/2.2-2699.10\/","token":"2.2\/I\/D\/26\/36\/2.2-2699.10","metadata":false},{"id":55397,"structure_id":14207,"section_number":"2.2-2699.11","catch_line":"Compensation; expenses; staffing","url":"\/2.2-2699.11\/","token":"2.2\/I\/D\/26\/36\/2.2-2699.11","metadata":false},{"id":67963,"structure_id":14207,"section_number":"2.2-2699.12","catch_line":"Powers and duties of the Council","url":"\/2.2-2699.12\/","token":"2.2\/I\/D\/26\/36\/2.2-2699.12","metadata":false},{"id":67697,"structure_id":14207,"section_number":"2.2-2699.8","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/2.2-2699.8\/","token":"2.2\/I\/D\/26\/36\/2.2-2699.8","metadata":false},{"id":55625,"structure_id":14207,"section_number":"2.2-2699.9","catch_line":"Virginia Council on Environmental Justice","url":"\/2.2-2699.9\/","token":"2.2\/I\/D\/26\/36\/2.2-2699.9","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":55397,"structure_id":14207,"section_number":"2.2-2699.11","catch_line":"Compensation; expenses; staffing","url":"\/2.2-2699.11\/","token":"2.2\/I\/D\/26\/36\/2.2-2699.11","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":67697,"structure_id":14207,"section_number":"2.2-2699.8","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/2.2-2699.8\/","token":"2.2\/I\/D\/26\/36\/2.2-2699.8","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/2.2-2699.12\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2020. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapters 113<\/a> and 1274<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":175423,"object_type":"law","relational_id":67963,"identifier":"2.2-2699.12","token":"2.2\/I\/D\/26\/36\/2.2-2699.12","url":"\/2.2-2699.12\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/2.2-2699.12\/","token":"2.2\/I\/D\/26\/36\/2.2-2699.12","dublin_core":{"Title":"Powers and duties of the Council","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 2.2-2699.12","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

The Council<\/span> shall have the following powers and duties:<\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Advise and provide recommendations to the Governor regarding the development of policies and procedures, focusing on equality and equity<\/span>, to ensure that environmental justice<\/span> issues<\/span> are heard and addressed as the Commonwealth evolves, as impacts of climate change increase, and as new environmental justice<\/span> issues<\/span> emerge. The Council<\/span> shall provide advice and recommendations to the Governor and his cabinet on:\n\t\t\ta. Integrating environmental justice<\/span> considerations throughout the Commonwealth’s programs, regulations, policies, and procedures;\n\t\t\tb. Strengthening partnerships on environmental justice<\/span> among governmental agencies, including federal, tribal, and local governments;\n\t\t\tc. Incorporating potential solutions to environmental justice<\/span> issues<\/span> related to stakeholder communication, local governments, climate change and resilience, transportation, clean energy, outdoor access, and cultural preservation;\n\t\t\td. Enhancing research and assessment approaches related to environmental justice<\/span> and identifying potential risks or disproportionate public health impacts related to environmental pollution, particularly those that threaten or could threaten low-income and historically underserved communities;\n\t\t\te. Receiving comments, concerns, and recommendations from individuals throughout the Commonwealth; and\n\t\t\tf. Recommending statutory, regulatory, or executive action, or relevant improvements or additions, for consideration to better address environmental justice<\/span> issues<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Submit an annual report to the Governor and the General Assembly for publication as a report document as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports. The chairperson shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly an annual executive summary of the interim activity and work of the Council<\/span> no later than the first day of each regular session of the General Assembly starting in 2021. The executive summary shall be submitted as a report document as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly’s website. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Apply for, accept, and expend gifts, grants, or donations from public, quasi-public, or private sources, including any matching funds designated in an appropriation act, to enable it to better carry out its objectives. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nPOWERS AND DUTIES OF THE COUNCIL (\u00a7 2.2-2699.12)\n\nThe Council shall have the following powers and duties:\n\n1. Advise and provide recommendations to the Governor regarding the development\nof policies and procedures, focusing on equality and equity, to ensure that\nenvironmental justice issues are heard and addressed as the Commonwealth\nevolves, as impacts of climate change increase, and as new environmental justice\nissues emerge. The Council shall provide advice and recommendations to the\nGovernor and his cabinet on:\n\t\t\ta. Integrating environmental justice considerations throughout the\nCommonwealth’s programs, regulations, policies, and procedures;\n\t\t\tb. Strengthening partnerships on environmental justice among governmental\nagencies, including federal, tribal, and local governments;\n\t\t\tc. Incorporating potential solutions to environmental justice issues related\nto stakeholder communication, local governments, climate change and resilience,\ntransportation, clean energy, outdoor access, and cultural preservation;\n\t\t\td. Enhancing research and assessment approaches related to environmental\njustice and identifying potential risks or disproportionate public health\nimpacts related to environmental pollution, particularly those that threaten or\ncould threaten low-income and historically underserved communities;\n\t\t\te. Receiving comments, concerns, and recommendations from individuals\nthroughout the Commonwealth; and\n\t\t\tf. Recommending statutory, regulatory, or executive action, or relevant\nimprovements or additions, for consideration to better address environmental\njustice issues.\n\n2. Submit an annual report to the Governor and the General Assembly for\npublication as a report document as provided in the procedures of the Division\nof Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and\nreports. The chairperson shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly\nan annual executive summary of the interim activity and work of the Council no\nlater than the first day of each regular session of the General Assembly\nstarting in 2021. The executive summary shall be submitted as a report document\nas provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems\nfor the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on\nthe General Assembly’s website.\n\n3. Apply for, accept, and expend gifts, grants, or donations from public,\nquasi-public, or private sources, including any matching funds designated in an\nappropriation act, to enable it to better carry out its objectives.\n\nHISTORY: 2020, cc. 113, 1274.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}