S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   4078
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 2, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. HINCHEY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Cultural Affairs, Tourism,
   Parks and Recreation
 
 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

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

                                                            LBD08329-01-1

 S. 4078                             2
 
 or  his  or  her  designee;  the commissioner of education or his or her
 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.