The New York State Senate

                    S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                 6681--A

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                             March 30, 2015
                               ___________

Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  ENGLEBRIGHT -- read once and referred to the
  Committee on Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports Development --  recommit-
  ted to the Committee on Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports Development in
  accordance  with Assembly Rule 3, sec. 2 -- committee discharged, bill
  amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said  commit-
  tee

AN  ACT  to  establish  a  geoparks task force to provide a plan for the
  identification of and make recommendations  for  educational  opportu-
  nities  associated  with  geological  sites as geoparks throughout the
  state

  THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. Legislative findings. The legislature hereby finds that the
state  is  geographically  rich  with  numerous  and diverse significant
geological sites. In the nineteenth  century  this  state  was  a  world
center  for  the  study  of geology. Furthermore, the state museum along
with a number of private and public  institutions  of  higher  education
teach and engage in geologic research. There are at least 68 significant
geological sites within the 178 state parks.
  The Global Geoparks Network was established as a United Nations Educa-
tional, Scientific and Cultural Organization program in 1998 to seek the
promotion  and  conservation of the earth's geological heritage, as well
as fostering sustainable research, education and development  by  inter-
ested  communities.  At  least  58  geoparks  in  18 countries have been
included in such network.
  This legislature further finds that greater recognition of the state's
geologic resources would foster wider education  about  these  resources
and sustainable socio-economic development, such as geotourism.
  Therefore,  this  act  establishes a geologic task force to survey and
formulate a plan for identifying sites for a system of geoparks,  and  a
management and development strategy for geoparks.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD10091-03-6

A. 6681--A                          2

  S  2.  There  is hereby established a geoparks task force, which shall
consist of eleven members. The membership of such task force shall be as
follows: the commissioner of parks, recreation and historic preservation
or his or her designee; the commissioner of  education  or  his  or  her
designee;  the  commissioner of environmental conservation or his or her
designee; two members appointed by the governor; two  members  appointed
by  the  speaker of the assembly; two members appointed by the temporary
president of the senate; one member appointed by the minority leader  of
the  assembly;  and  one  member appointed by the minority leader of the
senate. The appointed members of the task  force  shall  be  individuals
with experience in the areas of geology, education, sustainable develop-
ment and/or parks. The commissioner of education shall serve as chair of
the  task  force. The members of the task force shall receive no compen-
sation for their services, but shall be allowed their actual and  neces-
sary  expenses  incurred  in the performance of their duties pursuant to
this act.
  S 3. On or before the first day of the  twenty-fourth  calendar  month
next  succeeding  the  effective  date of this act, the task force shall
submit a report to the governor  and  the  legislature  identifying  the
sites  with  significant geological resources including, but not limited
to, sites within existing state parks and other parklands in the  state.
The process of identification of such sites shall include: (a) consider-
ation  of  opportunities  for  utilizing the site as part of educational
programs serving both students and visitors; (b) consideration of oppor-
tunities for socio-economic development  that  is  sustainable  such  as
geotourism;  (c)  consideration  of methods for conserving and enhancing
geological heritage that can foster teaching  geoscientific  disciplines
and broader environmental issues; and (d) consideration of opportunities
for  engaging  and/or connecting with state agencies, local governments,
heritage areas and private interests in the protection and management of
this site.
  Such report shall also include recommendations for programs to  accom-
modate  both public and private use, and strategies for management plan-
ning for protection, development and use. It shall also include an esti-
mate of public and private costs to  implement  recommendations  in  the
report.
  The task force shall consult with officials and representatives of the
federal  government  and  the United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization  with  responsibilities  relating  to  geoscience,
parks,  sustainable  development and education relating to this act, and
shall conduct three public hearings in  different  areas  of  the  state
while it is preparing the report.
  The  task  force  may  request  and shall receive from any department,
division, board, bureau, commission or other agency of the state or  any
political  subdivision  thereof  or any public authority such assistance
and data as may be necessary to enable it to carry out its  responsibil-
ities under this act.
  S 4. This act shall take effect immediately.