S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                  6273

                       2011-2012 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                             March 11, 2011
                               ___________

Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  ENGLEBRIGHT -- read once and referred to the
  Committee on Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports Development

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.
  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

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD09862-01-1
              

A. 6273                             2

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.
  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.