BILL NUMBER: S6482

SPONSOR: WEBB
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the education law, in relation to the licensure of a
professional geologist; and to repeal subdivision 2 of section 7206-b of
the education law relating thereto

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

This legislation updates the geology licensing requirements by removing
the provision allowing for a substitution of 12 years working experience
for a bachelor's degree or higher based on a program in geology. Persons
with substantially equivalent educational credentials, in accordance
with the commissioner's regulations, will also qualify to sit for the
professional geology examination, provided all other requirements for
licensure are satisfied. The legislation also changes reference to
"intern geologists" to "geologists in training:" Finally, a person seek-
ing licensure pursuant to the current 12-year experience ladder is
authorized to file an application within 2 years of the effective date
of the legislation in order to preserve the ability to qualify for geol-
ogy licensure based on experience.
              

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1: Repeals subdivision 2 of section 7206-b of the education law
and adds a new subdivision 4 to require a formal education in geology.

Section 2: Changes "intern geologist" to "geologist in training".

Section 3: Sets the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Today, very few individuals secure a professional geology license with-
out a format education including a bachelor's degree in geology.  Howev-
er, a bachelor's degree is not required under current law. The bill is
consistent with the standard used throughout the nation and reflects the
complexity of the demands placed on geologists, which include research-
ing, investigating, consulting and geological mapping. This work
describes the natural processes that act upon the earth's materials,
predicting the probable occurrence of natural resources, predicting and
locating natural or human-induced phenomena which may be useful or
hazardous to humankind and recognizing, determining and evaluating
geological factors, and the inspection and performance of geological
work and the responsible supervision thereof in furtherance of the
health, safety and welfare of the public.

The practice of geology is a highly technical profession requiring
extensive knowledge of math, science and geological principles, and it
is necessary to have an education requirement as part of the require-
ments for licensure as a professional geologist. This revised education
requirement for geologists will help ensure the health safety and
welfare of the public, as geologists can no longer obtain the necessary
foundation in math, science, and geological principles from a high
school education and twelve years of experience.


Individuals can secure a bachelor's degree in geology in New York via a
variety of public and private colleges, including 4-year SUNY insti-
tutions.  In order to allow licensure by those individuals currently on
the 12-year experience-only pathway, a limited exception is provided for
individuals who have embarked on a career path in reliance upon the
12-year Ladder. Individuals seeking a license based upon the 12-year
ladder provision will be afforded 2 years following the date of enact-
ment to file an application with the Education Department thereby
preserving their right to utilize this alternative approach to a license
at anytime in the future.

Additionally, the change in the title "intern geologist" to "geologist
in training" more aptly describes those on the path to licensure as a
professional geologist.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2023-24 S9455/A9936: Referred to Higher Education

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it
shall have become a law and shall apply to applications for licensure as
a professional geologist on or after such effective date. Effective
immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regu-
lation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective
date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective
date.