S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   6681
 
                        2017-2018 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                              March 15, 2017
                                ___________
 
 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.
   § 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.
              

                                                            LBD03811-01-7

 A. 6681                             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. 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.
   §  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.
   § 4. This act shall take effect immediately.