Relating to the creation of the Office of Environmental Justice within the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

SB 561 creates an Office of Environmental Justice within Texas' Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to address pollution concerns in vulnerable communities. It defines "environmental justice communities" as areas where 30%+ of residents live below 200% of the federal poverty level or 50%+ are racial/ethnic minorities. The office must review permit applications for facilities within three miles of such communities, assessing cumulative pollution impacts and existing vulnerabilities like high asthma rates, cancer prevalence, limited healthcare access, and current pollution levels. This requirement applies to permits for facilities regulated under specific health and safety codes.