THE COUNCIL OF STATE GOVERNMENTS 



The Council of State Governments te a non-proffi, non-partisan service organization of ail 50 state 

 governments - created, supported, funded and directed by them. The states established the Councli in 1933 

 to improve the state governments and strengthen the state role in the federal system. 



The Council conducts research on state programs and problems: maintains an information service 

 available to state officials; issues a variety of publicattons: assists in state-federal liaison; promotes regional 

 and state- local cooperation; and provides staff for affiliated organizations. 



The Council is the United States' only non-profit agency dedicated to serving all branches of state 

 government in ail the states and territories. The Council has nurtured new state roles for over 50 years by 

 bringing state leaders together to share ideas. Innovations, and solutions. The Council annually publishes 

 many volumes concerned with state government, Including Suggested State Legislation, Innovations Reports, 

 The Book of the States (biennially), to name a few. The Coundl also regularty conducts meetings of such 

 state legislative groups as the Southern Legislative Conference, the Midwestern Legislative Conference, the 

 Western Legislative Conference, and the Eastern Regional Conference. Meetings of regional groups of gover- 

 nors and attorneys general are also regularty conducted, as well as national and regional meetings of state en- 

 vironmental officials and others. The Council has 47 different organizations of state officials assodated with it. 

 such as the National Conference of Ueutenant Governors, the National Association of State Treasurers, the 

 Southern Environmental Resource Conference, etc. 



The Center for the Environment and Natural Resources 



The Center for the Environment and Natural Resources (CENR) was established by CSG to assist 

 state leaders in environmental policy. CENR is part of the Council of State Governments, and is guided by a 

 Policy Steering Commitlee of senior state legislators and executive branch officials from all regions of the 

 country. 



Focusing on state program and policy options; the Center helps states to share information, resour- 

 ces, and ideas; prepares model state programs and suggested laws; hosts woridng sessions among state, 

 public, and private sector leaders to develop and recomn)end joint solutions to problems; researches Issues 

 identified by its members; offers states a central referral service; and Identifies and articulates key state 

 problems and solutions. In addition to these services, CSG's Centers infomri state policy maimers through pub- 

 Bcations on state policy initiatives, Including reports, briefs, and survey data; trains and develops state officials 

 on issues and policies; and holds timely regional and national fomms on problems and solutions. 



For further Information: 



Mr. R. Steven Brown, Director 



Center for the Environment and Natural Resources 



P.O. Box 11910 



Lexington. KY 40502 



