NY State Senate Bill 2021-S9520

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Rules Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Date of Action	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jul 29, 2022	referred to rules

2021-S9520 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Rules
Law Section:: Environmental Conservation
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2023-2024: S239
2025-2026: S1211

2021-S9520 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Enacts the "New York open water data act"; directs certain agencies to identify and integrate key water data sets; provides duties and an annual plan for data to be researched and reported.

2021-S9520 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S9520

SPONSOR: MAY
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act in relation to enacting the "New York open water data act"

 
PURPOSE:

To bring together the state's water-related agencies to collaborate on
creating, operating, and maintaining an integrated water data platform,
ensuring that water resources are managed more efficiently and giving
water users access to the data they need to make informed decisions

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1: Sets short title as the New York Open Water Data Act.

Section 2: Definitions, including the agencies to be involved in open
water data work, including the Water Resources Institute at Cornell,
Department of Environmental Conservation, Department of Health's Bureau
of Water Supply Protection, Department of Agriculture and Markets, Canal

Corporation, and New York City Department of Environmental Protection.

Section 3: Sets forth duties and standards to implement the Open Water
Data Act. By Jan 1 2024, the agencies identify key data, develop common
standards for data collection and dissemination, create an integrated
data platform accessible to the public, and develop a framework to
include data from citizen scientists. All water research funded by the
state will comply with the data standards set forth.  Requires the agen-
cies to collaborate wherever possible with other regional, national, and
international efforts. By Sep 1 2024, and each year thereafter, the
agencies will submit a plan to the Governor and legislature on implemen-
tation and future needs to keep the state's water data current.

Section 4: Funding for the Open Water Data Act will be subject to appro-
priations.

Section 5: Effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

New York State is blessed with abundant fresh water. From the Great
Lakes and Fingers Lakes to the St. Lawrence to the Long Island aquifers,
every corner of the state has its own unique watersheds. As global warm-
ing dries up lakes and rivers elsewhere, New York will increasingly
become a magnet for those seeking a livable climate. As a state, we must
make every effort to steward our fresh water long into the future. A
critical step toward creating the best long-term policies is ensuring
that we have access to the best data available.

In Western states like California, Arizona, and New Mexico, significant
efforts are underway to modernize and standardize water data in the face
of drought. Like many sources of public data, water data is managed at a
variety of levels of government by many different agencies and entities.
Data is not always shared widely or maintained with an eye toward inter-
operability. Good data is always a key element for good policy-making.
By following in the steps of these Western states, New York can address
its own water governance issues by building better data practices and by
making public water data more widely available. By asking water-related
agencies to come together to create a common set of water data standards
for the state and a public-facing interface where such data can be
shared, viewed, and used by interested parties, we will facilitate
better water governance in the state. Protecting New York's public water
long into the future must be a key goal of the state, and an effort to
modernize our water data is a key step toward doing so.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.

2021-S9520 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   9520
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               July 29, 2022
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  MAY  --  read  twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
 
 AN ACT in relation to enacting the "New York open water data act"
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  Short  title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
 the "New York open water data act".
   § 2. Definitions. For purposes of this act, the following terms  shall
 have the following meanings:
   1. "Agencies" means the:
   (a) New York water resources institute at Cornell University;
   (b) New York state department of environmental conservation;
   (c)  New  York  state  department  of  health's bureau of water supply
 protection;
   (d) New York state department of agriculture and markets;
   (e) New York state canal corporation; and
   (f) New York city department of environmental protection.
   2. "Data and information platform" means software, hardware and  tools
 that  collect,  organize,  integrate,  distribute and archive water data
 that at a minimum:
   (a) integrate water data managed by state  and  local  entities  using
 consistent and standardized formats; and
   (b) integrate:
   (i)  state  and  local  government  data on streamflow, precipitation,
 reservoir and irrigation system operations, ground water use and levels,
 municipal and industrial water use and land uses, but not including data
 from residential wells;
   (ii) data on water rights, water diversions and water quality; and
   (iii) data on fish, aquatic and riparian systems and ecological data.
   3. "Water data" means measurements of basic properties relating to the
 planning  and  management  of  water  resources,  including  streamflow,
 precipitation, ground water, water quality and water use in agriculture,
 industry and municipal uses and natural systems.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD16172-03-2

 S. 9520                             2
 
   § 3. Water data agencies; duties; standards and best practices; annual
 plan.  1.  By January 1, 2024, the agencies, as convened by the New York
 water resources institute at Cornell University, shall:
   (a)  identify  key water data, information and tools needed to support
 water management and planning;
   (b) develop common  water  data  standards  for  data  collection  and
 dissemination,  including practices to standardize and clean up data and
 make it available to the public in commonly used data formats;
   (c) develop an integrated water data and information platform, includ-
 ing a publicly accessible site where data will be made available;
   (d) identify available and unavailable water data; and
   (e) develop framework to include data  derived  from  citizen  science
 efforts.
   2.  Water research undertaken with state funding shall comply with the
 common water data standards and best practices developed  by  the  agen-
 cies.
   3.  The  agencies  shall collaborate with other regional, national and
 international efforts, including but not  limited  to  the  great  lakes
 commission  and  the international joint commission, to share, integrate
 and manage water data.
   4. By September 1, 2024, and thereafter annually  by  September  1  of
 each  year, the agencies shall develop and submit a plan to the governor
 and the appropriate legislative committee that details:
   (a) an assessment of water data and information needs to support water
 management and planning;
   (b) goals, targets and actions to carry out the purposes of  this  act
 in the upcoming fiscal year;
   (c) budgetary resources to carry out the purposes of this act; and
   (d) metrics for achieving the purposes of this act.
   §  4.  Funding.  Funding  for  such  act  shall consist of all revenue
 received pursuant to an appropriation  thereto,  and  all  other  monies
 appropriated,  credited or transferred from any other source pursuant to
 law. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to prevent the  state  from
 receiving  grants, gifts or bequests for the purpose of such act. Grants
 shall only be awarded based upon the availability of funds.
   § 5. This act shall take effect immediately.

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Senate Bill S9520

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Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Rules Committee

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2021-S9520 (ACTIVE) - Details

2021-S9520 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2021-S9520 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2021-S9520 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

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Sponsored By

Rachel May

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Rules Committee

Actions

2021-S9520 (ACTIVE) - Details

2021-S9520 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2021-S9520 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2021-S9520 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments