Establishes the taxpayer access to publicly funded research act

3 Co-sponsors

• George Latimer
• Patty Ritchie
• José M. Serrano

BILL NUMBER:S3952

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 and are blocked from wide-spread public access. New York State proudly supports its dedicated funding for research which helps create scientific, environmental, and cultural breakthroughs; however it is unacceptable that the taxpayers who provide money for this research should be prevented from accessing it. This bill will provide free online public access as soon as practicable but not later than twelve months after publication in peer-reviewed journals.

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.