[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07847-01-9
S. 1620 2 A. 4291
practicable, and are treated with the utmost respect consistent with the
wishes of lineal descendants and culturally-affiliated groups.
S 3. Section 1503 of the not-for-profit corporation law is amended by
adding a new paragraph (c) to read as follows:
(C) EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH (C) OF SECTION FIFTEEN
HUNDRED SEVEN AND PARAGRAPH (M) OF SECTION FIFTEEN HUNDRED TEN OF THIS
ARTICLE, THIS ARTICLE DOES NOT APPLY TO A BURIAL SITE AS DEFINED IN
PARAGRAPH (A) OF SECTION FIFTEEN HUNDRED EIGHTEEN.
S 4. The not-for-profit corporation law is amended by adding a new
section 1518 to read as follows:
S 1518. DISCOVERY AND DISPOSITION OF HUMAN REMAINS AND FUNERARY OBJECTS.
(A) DEFINITIONS. AS USED IN THIS SECTION:
(1) "BURIAL SITE" MEANS ANY LOCATION IN WHICH HUMAN REMAINS ARE INTER-
RED, WHICH IS NOT A CEMETERY SUBJECT TO PROVISIONS OF THIS CHAPTER, THE
RELIGIOUS CORPORATION LAW, THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL LAW, THE COUNTY LAW,
THE TOWN LAW OR THE VILLAGE LAW.
(2) "COMMITTEE" MEANS THE NATIVE AMERICAN BURIAL SITE REVIEW COMMITTEE
CREATED BY PARAGRAPH (C) OF THIS SECTION.
(3) "CULTURALLY-AFFILIATED GROUP" MEANS ANY GROUP, INCLUDING AN INDIAN
TRIBE, WHOSE PAST OR PRESENT GOVERNMENT, OR TRADITIONAL CULTURE OR RELI-
GION WAS OR IS AFFILIATED WITH HUMAN REMAINS OR FUNERARY OBJECTS WHICH
ARE THE SUBJECT OF THIS SECTION. SUCH GROUP SHALL INCLUDE AN INDIAN
TRIBE WHOSE ABORIGINAL TERRITORY, AS DEFINED BY THE COMMITTEE, INCLUDES
THE LOCATION OF A BURIAL SITE CONTAINING NATIVE AMERICAN HUMAN REMAINS
OR FUNERARY OBJECTS.
(4) "FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGIST" MEANS A PERSON QUALIFIED IN THE MEDI-
COLEGAL INVESTIGATION/EXAMINATION OF HUMAN SKELETAL REMAINS.
(5) "FUNERARY OBJECTS" MEANS ANY ITEM OR ITEMS REASONABLY BELIEVED TO
HAVE BEEN PLACED WITH HUMAN REMAINS AT THE TIME OF BURIAL, INCLUDING BUT
NOT LIMITED TO BURIAL MARKERS, ITEMS OF PERSONAL ADORNMENT, VESSELS,
BEADS, TOOLS, IMPLEMENTS, CEREMONIAL OBJECTS AND OTHER ARTIFACTS.
(6) "HUMAN REMAINS" MEANS THE REMAINS OF ANY PART OF THE BODY OF A
DECEASED PERSON.
(7) "INDIAN TRIBE" MEANS ANY NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBE, NATION OR GROUP
RECOGNIZED BY THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA OR THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
(8) "LINEAL DESCENDANT" MEANS A GENEALOGICAL DESCENDANT ESTABLISHED BY
ORAL TRADITION OR WRITTEN RECORD.
(9) "STATE ARCHAEOLOGIST" MEANS THE PERSON APPOINTED TO SUCH OFFICE
PURSUANT TO SECTION TWO HUNDRED THIRTY-FIVE OF THE EDUCATION LAW.
(B) APPLICABILITY. THIS SECTION SHALL APPLY TO ALL LANDS WITHIN THE
STATE, EXCEPT FOR LANDS LOCATED UPON ANY INDIAN RESERVATION LOCATED
WHOLLY OR PARTLY WITHIN THE STATE.
(C) NATIVE AMERICAN BURIAL SITE REVIEW COMMITTEE. THERE IS HEREBY
ESTABLISHED A NATIVE AMERICAN BURIAL SITE REVIEW COMMITTEE CONSISTING OF
THE FOLLOWING: ONE MEMBER TO BE APPOINTED BY EACH OF THE INDIAN TRIBES
IN THE STATE AS THE OFFICIAL REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE
NATIVE AMERICAN GRAVES PROTECTION AND REPATRIATION ACT; THE STATE
ARCHAEOLOGIST; A FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGIST; THE CHAIR OF THE HUMAN REMAINS
COMMITTEE OR OTHER DESIGNEE OF THE NEW YORK ARCHAEOLOGICAL COUNCIL; AND
ONE MEMBER WITH EXPERTISE IN THE FIELD OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION
APPOINTED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF THE OFFICE OF PARKS, RECREATION AND
HISTORIC PRESERVATION. THE COMMITTEE SHALL ELECT A CHAIRPERSON FROM
AMONG ITS MEMBERS. THE MEMBERS WHO ARE NOT PUBLIC EMPLOYEES SHALL BE
REIMBURSED BY THE STATE FOR THEIR REASONABLE AND NECESSARY EXPENSES
INCURRED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF COMMITTEE FUNCTIONS. IT SHALL BE THE
FUNCTION OF THE COMMITTEE TO DETERMINE THE LINEAL DESCENDANTS AND/OR
S. 1620 3 A. 4291
CULTURALLY-AFFILIATED GROUPS FOR NATIVE AMERICAN HUMAN REMAINS AND
FUNERARY OBJECTS SUBJECT TO THIS SECTION, AND TO PROVIDE NOTICE TO SUCH
DESCENDANTS AND/OR GROUPS AS PROVIDED IN THIS SECTION. THE STATE
ARCHAEOLOGIST SHALL PREPARE, AND THE COMMITTEE SHALL ADOPT, STANDARD
PROCEDURES FOR DETERMINING THE LINEAL DESCENDANTS AND CULTURALLY-AFFILI-
ATED GROUPS FOR HUMAN REMAINS AS REQUIRED BY THIS SECTION, INCLUDING
ACCEPTABLE TYPES OF PROOF OF SUCH DESCENT AND AFFILIATION.
(D) DISCOVERY OF BURIAL SITE; REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. (1) ANY PERSON
WHO IN THE COURSE OF ANY GROUND-DISTURBING ACTIVITY DISCOVERS A BURIAL
SITE, HUMAN REMAINS OR FUNERARY OBJECTS SHALL IMMEDIATELY CEASE ANY
FURTHER DISTURBANCE OF SUCH SITE, REMAINS OR OBJECTS, AND SHALL IMME-
DIATELY REPORT SUCH DISCOVERY TO THE CORONER OR MEDICAL EXAMINER IN THE
COUNTY IN WHICH THE REMAINS WERE DISCOVERED. THE CORONER OR MEDICAL
EXAMINER SHALL WITHIN NINETY-SIX HOURS DETERMINE WHETHER ANY ACTIONS ARE
REQUIRED PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE SEVENTEEN-A OF THE COUNTY
LAW. IF ANY SUCH REMAINS APPEAR TO THE CORONER OR MEDICAL EXAMINER TO BE
MORE THAN FIFTY YEARS OLD, THE CORONER OR MEDICAL EXAMINER SHALL IMME-
DIATELY PROVIDE NOTICE OF THE DISCOVERY OF SUCH REMAINS TO THE STATE
ARCHAEOLOGIST, WHO SHALL IN TURN CONVEY EACH SUCH NOTICE TO THE OTHER
MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE. ANY INSPECTION OR EXAMINATION SHALL BE MADE
IN SITU EXCEPT AS NECESSARY TO COMPLY WITH SUCH ARTICLE SEVENTEEN-A OR
TO DETERMINE THE AGE OF THE REMAINS.
(2) THE STATE ARCHAEOLOGIST, OR SUCH QUALIFIED PERSON AS MAY BE DESIG-
NATED BY THE STATE ARCHAEOLOGIST, SHALL, UPON RECEIVING NOTICE FROM A
CORONER OR MEDICAL EXAMINER OF THE DISCOVERY OF HUMAN REMAINS, INSPECT
THE SITE, REMAINS AND/OR OBJECTS WHICH ARE THE SUBJECT OF SUCH NOTICE,
PREPARE A REPORT THEREON AND PROVIDE A COPY OF THE REPORT TO THE COMMIT-
TEE. THE REPORT SHALL BE BASED UPON PHYSICAL EXAMINATION OF THE DISCOV-
ERED BURIAL SITE, REMAINS AND/OR OBJECTS, AND SHALL CONTAIN THE STATE
ARCHAEOLOGIST'S CONCLUSION AS TO WHETHER SUCH SITE, REMAINS AND/OR
OBJECTS MAY BE OF NATIVE AMERICAN ORIGIN. IN PREPARING THE REPORT, THE
STATE ARCHAEOLOGIST MAY SEEK AND OBTAIN ASSISTANCE FROM ANY EMPLOYEE OF
THE REGENTS, FROM THE COMMITTEE, AND FROM THE OFFICE OF PARKS, RECRE-
ATION AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION.
(E) DETERMINATION OF AND NOTIFICATION TO LINEAL DESCENDANT OR CULTUR-
ALLY-AFFILIATED GROUP. (1) IF THE STATE ARCHAEOLOGIST, THE FORENSIC
ANTHROPOLOGIST AND THE COMMITTEE AGREE THAT THE BURIAL SITE DOES NOT
WHOLLY OR PARTLY CONTAIN HUMAN REMAINS OR FUNERARY OBJECTS THAT ARE OF
NATIVE AMERICAN ORIGIN, IT SHALL BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STATE
ARCHAEOLOGIST TO DETERMINE, AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE, WHETHER THERE IS ANY
REASONABLY ASCERTAINABLE LINEAL DESCENDANT OR CULTURALLY-AFFILIATED
GROUP WITH RESPECT TO SUCH SITE, REMAINS OR OBJECTS AND, IMMEDIATELY
UPON MAKING SUCH DETERMINATION, TO PROVIDE NOTICE TO SUCH DESCENDANTS OR
GROUP OF THE REPORTED DISCOVERY.
(2) IF THE STATE ARCHAEOLOGIST, THE FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGIST AND THE
COMMITTEE AGREE THAT THE BURIAL SITE WHOLLY OR PARTLY CONTAINS HUMAN
REMAINS OR FUNERARY OBJECTS THAT MAY BE OF NATIVE AMERICAN ORIGIN, IT
SHALL BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE COMMITTEE TO DETERMINE THE LINEAL
DESCENDANTS OR CULTURALLY-AFFILIATED GROUPS. SUCH DETERMINATION SHALL BE
MADE AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE AFTER THE COMMITTEE RECEIVES A REPORT FROM
THE STATE ARCHAEOLOGIST CONCERNING THE BURIAL SITE. IMMEDIATELY UPON
MAKING SUCH DETERMINATION, THE COMMITTEE SHALL PROVIDE WRITTEN NOTIFICA-
TION TO SUCH DESCENDANTS OR GROUPS OF THE REPORTED DISCOVERY.
(3) THE COMMITTEE SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT OF POSSESSION AND STEWARDSHIP
OF NATIVE AMERICAN HUMAN REMAINS AND FUNERARY OBJECTS FROM THE TIME IT
RECEIVES NOTIFICATION FROM THE STATE ARCHAEOLOGIST PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH
S. 1620 4 A. 4291
(D) OF THIS SECTION UNTIL THE LINEAL DESCENDANTS AND/OR CULTURALLY-AFFI-
LIATED GROUPS RECEIVE NOTIFICATION FROM THE COMMITTEE PURSUANT TO THIS
PARAGRAPH, AT WHICH TIME SUCH LINEAL DESCENDANTS AND/OR CULTURALLY-AFFI-
LIATED GROUPS SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT OF POSSESSION AND STEWARDSHIP OF SUCH
REMAINS AND OBJECTS. UPON NOTIFICATION TO SUCH LINEAL DESCENDANTS OR
CULTURALLY-AFFILIATED GROUPS PURSUANT TO THIS PARAGRAPH, OWNERSHIP OF
AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE HUMAN REMAINS AND FUNERARY OBJECTS SHALL VEST
EXCLUSIVELY IN SUCH DESCENDANTS OR GROUPS, WHICH SHALL HAVE EXCLUSIVE
AUTHORITY TO DETERMINE THEIR DISPOSITION.
(4) THE COMMITTEE SHALL ESTABLISH PROCEDURES FOR MAKING THE DETERMI-
NATION AS TO WHETHER DISCOVERED HUMAN REMAINS OR FUNERARY OBJECTS MAY BE
OF NATIVE AMERICAN ORIGIN WHEN THE STATE ARCHAEOLOGIST AND THE COMMITTEE
CAN NOT COME TO AGREEMENT.
(5) WHERE A BURIAL SITE CONTAINS BOTH NATIVE AMERICAN AND NON-NATIVE
AMERICAN HUMAN REMAINS OR FUNERARY OBJECTS, THE COMMITTEE SHALL BE
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE NATIVE AMERICAN BURIALS AT THE SITE, AND THE STATE
ARCHAEOLOGIST SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL OTHER BURIALS AT THE SITE.
(F) DISPOSITION OF REMAINS AND OBJECTS. (1) WITHIN TEN DAYS AFTER
NOTIFICATION BY THE STATE ARCHAEOLOGIST TO A LINEAL DESCENDANT OR
CULTURALLY-AFFILIATED GROUP, OTHER THAN AN INDIAN TRIBE OF THE DISCOVERY
OF A BURIAL SITE, THE DESCENDANT OR GROUP SHALL ADVISE THE STATE ARCHAE-
OLOGIST AS TO THE PREFERRED DISPOSITION OF THE DISCOVERED REMAINS OR
OBJECTS. THE STATE ARCHAEOLOGIST SHALL TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PRACTICABLE
FACILITATE SUCH PREFERRED DISPOSITION, WHICH MAY CONSIST OF REINTERMENT
AND PROTECTION OF THE BURIAL SITE OR DISINTERMENT AND REBURIAL OR OTHER
DISPOSITION AS DETERMINED.
(2) WITHIN TEN DAYS AFTER NOTIFICATION BY THE COMMITTEE TO A LINEAL
DESCENDANT OR CULTURALLY-AFFILIATED GROUP OF THE DISCOVERY OF A BURIAL
SITE, THE DESCENDANT OR GROUP SHALL ADVISE THE COMMITTEE IN WRITING AS
TO THE PREFERRED DISPOSITION OF THE DISCOVERED REMAINS OR OBJECTS. THE
COMMITTEE SHALL TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PRACTICABLE FACILITATE SUCH
PREFERRED DISPOSITION, WHICH MAY CONSIST OF REINTERMENT AND PROTECTION
OF THE BURIAL SITE OR DISINTERMENT AND REBURIAL OR OTHER DISPOSITION AS
DETERMINED.
(G) DISPOSITION OF HUMAN REMAINS AND FUNERARY OBJECTS, GENERALLY. (1)
EXCEPT AS NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, BURIAL
SITES, HUMAN REMAINS AND FUNERARY OBJECTS SHALL REMAIN UNDISTURBED AFTER
DISCOVERY.
(2) UNLESS EXPRESS CONTRARY DIRECTION IS GIVEN BY THE COMMITTEE, A
CULTURALLY-AFFILIATED GROUP OR LINEAL DESCENDANT, THE PRESUMED DISPOSI-
TION OF HUMAN REMAINS AND FUNERARY OBJECTS SHALL BE THAT THEY REMAIN
UNDISTURBED WHERE BURIED, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBPARAGRAPHS THREE AND
FOUR OF THIS PARAGRAPH.
(3) NOTWITHSTANDING SUBPARAGRAPH TWO OF THIS PARAGRAPH, WHERE THERE IS
NO PRACTICABLE MEANS OF MODIFYING THE ACTIVITY WHICH LED TO THE DISCOV-
ERY OF A BURIAL SITE, HUMAN REMAINS OR FUNERARY OBJECTS IN ORDER TO
AVOID DISTURBING SUCH SITE, REMAINS OR OBJECTS, THE REMAINS OR OBJECTS
SHALL BE REMOVED AND REINTERRED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DIRECTIONS OF THE
COMMITTEE, CULTURALLY-AFFILIATED GROUP, OR LINEAL DESCENDANT.
(4) NOTWITHSTANDING SUBPARAGRAPH TWO OF THIS PARAGRAPH, WHERE THE
STATE ARCHAEOLOGIST AND THE COMMITTEE HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE
LINEAL DESCENDANT OR CULTURALLY-AFFILIATED GROUP FOR HUMAN REMAINS OR
FUNERARY OBJECTS, THE STATE ARCHAEOLOGIST SHALL DETERMINE THE APPROPRI-
ATE DISPOSITION OF SUCH REMAINS OR OBJECTS.
(H) PENALTIES. (1) ANY PERSON WHO FAILS TO REPORT THE DISCOVERY OF A
BURIAL SITE, HUMAN REMAINS OR FUNERARY OBJECTS AS REQUIRED BY PARAGRAPH
S. 1620 5 A. 4291
(D) OF THIS SECTION SHALL BE GUILTY OF A CLASS B MISDEMEANOR, AS DEFINED
IN THE PENAL LAW.
(2) ANY PERSON OTHER THAN THE STATE ARCHAEOLOGIST, OR A PERSON OR
GROUP WITH A RIGHT OF POSSESSION OR STEWARDSHIP PURSUANT TO THIS
SECTION, OR A DESIGNEE THEREOF, WHO INTENTIONALLY REMOVES HUMAN REMAINS
OR FUNERARY OBJECTS FROM A BURIAL SITE SHALL BE GUILTY OF A CLASS A
MISDEMEANOR, AS DEFINED IN THE PENAL LAW.
(3) ANY PERSON WHO DEFACES OR DESTROYS A BURIAL SITE, HUMAN REMAINS OR
FUNERARY OBJECTS, OR WHO POSSESSES HUMAN REMAINS OR FUNERARY OBJECTS
WITH INTENT TO SELL SUCH REMAINS OR ARTIFACTS, OR WHO SELLS OR ATTEMPTS
TO SELL HUMAN REMAINS OR FUNERARY OBJECTS, SHALL BE GUILTY OF A CLASS E
FELONY, AS DEFINED IN THE PENAL LAW.
(I) ENFORCEMENT. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OR ANY AGGRIEVED PARTY, INCLUD-
ING THE COMMITTEE AND ANY LINEAL DESCENDANT OR CULTURALLY-AFFILIATED
GROUP, MAY BRING AN ACTION IN SUPREME COURT IN THE JUDICIAL DISTRICT
WHERE THE REMAINS OR OBJECTS COVERED BY THIS SECTION ARE LOCATED TO
ENJOIN VIOLATIONS OR THREATENED VIOLATIONS OF THIS SECTION, AND TO
RECOVER SUCH REMAINS OR OBJECTS, AND IN THE CASE OF AN AGGRIEVED PARTY,
COMPENSATORY AND PUNITIVE DAMAGES FOR SUCH VIOLATION.
S 5. Section 235 of the education law is amended to read as follows:
S 235. State science service. There shall be maintained in the
university a science service which shall be known as the state science
service and the state geologist, paleontologist, botanist [and], ento-
mologist, AND ARCHAEOLOGIST shall constitute its staff together with
such other scientists as the regents may employ or who are now employed
by them. This service is empowered and directed to make available its
services to all the departments of the state, and the residents of the
state under such rules and regulations as the regents may prescribe and
is empowered to engage in such scientific research as directed by law or
by the regents and shall cooperate with scientific units or agencies of
other states, the federal government, educational institutions and
industry in the discovery, analysis and dissemination of scientific
information. The director of the state museum shall also be the direc-
tor and head of the state science service and the staff of the service
shall be members of the staff of the state museum.
S 6. Section 14.09 of the parks, recreation and historic preservation
law is amended by adding a new subdivision 3 to read as follows:
3. PRIOR TO THE PREPARATION OR APPROVAL OF THE FINAL DESIGN OR PLAN OF
ANY PROJECT UNDERTAKEN BY A STATE AGENCY, OR PRIOR TO THE FUNDING OF ANY
PROJECT BY A STATE AGENCY, OR PRIOR TO AN ACTION OF APPROVAL OR ENTITLE-
MENT OF ANY PRIVATE PROJECT BY A STATE AGENCY, THE AGENCY'S PRESERVATION
OFFICER SHALL PERFORM A DILIGENT INQUIRY TO DETERMINE WHETHER ANY ASPECT
OF THE PROJECT MAY OR WILL EFFECT A DISTURBANCE OF A KNOWN OR SUSPECTED
BURIAL SITE FOR WHICH A CULTURALLY-AFFILIATED INDIAN TRIBE, GROUP OR
LINEAL DESCENDENT CAN BE IDENTIFIED. THE TERMS "BURIAL SITE", "CULTURAL-
LY-AFFILIATED" AND "INDIAN TRIBE" SHALL HAVE THE SAME MEANINGS AS
ASCRIBED TO SUCH TERMS IN PARAGRAPH (A) OF SECTION FIFTEEN HUNDRED EIGH-
TEEN OF THE NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION LAW. IN SUCH EVENT SUCH OFFICER
SHALL NOTIFY SUCH INDIAN TRIBE AND THE NATIVE AMERICAN BURIAL SITE
REVIEW COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED BY SECTION FIFTEEN HUNDRED EIGHTEEN OF THE
NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION LAW AND CONSULT WITH THE TRIBE AND SUCH
COMMITTEE TO DETERMINE HOW TO AVOID SUCH DISTURBANCE.
S 7. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeed-
ing the date on which it shall have become a law.