Establishes the taxpayer access to publicly funded research act

3 Co-sponsors

• Mark Grisanti
• Liz Krueger
• Kenneth P. LaValle

BILL NUMBER:S4050A

Title of bill

An act to establish the taxpayer access to publicly funded research act

Purpose

The purpose of this legislation is to ensure a public access policy is created for any original research that is the result of prescribed grants from state agency funding for the purpose of the specific research proposal. This law, known as the taxpayer access to publicly funded research act, shall in part require, at a minimum, that a final copy of the research be delivered to the agency which provided funding for it, and that it shall be submitted to a digital repository which must allow free public access.

Summary of provisions

This bill creates the "taxpayer access to publicly funded research act" in the unconsolidated law.

Justification

Each year, New York State agencies distribute tens of millions of dollars in direct and underwritten funding to original research projects. Much of the time, these papers receive publication to peer-reviewed journals, However, while the internet has expanded the breadth of free information that is available to the general public, many peer reviewed journals maintain prohibitive cost barriers which block widespread public access. New York State proudly supports its dedicated funding to research which helps create scientific, environmental, and cultural breakthroughs; however it is unacceptable that that the taxpayers who provide the money for this research should encounter any barrier in accessing it. This bill will provide a window for 6 months of exclusive protection to the research, at which point it is only just that the general public be free to share in the information generated from the research. Passing this law will give New York the honor of being the first state in the country to require public access to research generated from taxpayer dollars.

Legislative history

2012 S7046A Committed to Finance

Fiscal implications

To be determined.

Effective date

This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment, and/or repeal of any rule or regulation for the implementation of this act on its effective date is authorized to be made on or before such date.