What's happening
This bill creates a task force to identify, plan, and make recommendations for educational and economic opportunities at New York's geological sites as geoparks.
Why it matters
Promotes statewide recognition and conservation of New York’s geological heritage. , which could spark new educational programs and foster local pride in unique landscapes.
Creates potential for sustainable economic development through geotourism. , encouraging communities to leverage their geological assets for jobs and small business growth without harming the environment.
Brings together diverse stakeholders—state agencies, educators, scientists, and community representatives. to collaboratively plan for the use, protection, and interpretation of geological sites, increasing the likelihood of informed and balanced recommendations.
Requires a thorough public process, including hearings and consultations with international organizations. , ensuring transparency, opportunities for public input, and alignment with global best practices for geopark management.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Create Geoparks Task Force
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to tourism, parks, arts and sports development
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 60–0
- Ordered to third reading cal.1815
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Referred to cultural affairs, tourism, parks and recreation
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to tourism, parks, arts and sports development
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 63–0
- Ordered to third reading cal.1528
Show 3 earlier actions
- Reported and committed to rules
- Reported and committed to finance
- Referred to cultural affairs, tourism, parks and recreation
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Create New York Geoparks Plan
In Assembly Committee · Tourism, Parks, Arts And Sports Development · Sponsor Steven Englebright
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
893
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 5, 2017
Introduced by Sen. AMEDORE -- 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 opportunities associated with geological sites as geoparks throughout the state
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, 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 Educational, 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 interested 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.
LBD03811-01-7
S. 893 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 development and/or parks. The commissioner of education shall serve as chair of the task force. The members of the task force shall receive no compensation for their services, but shall be allowed their actual and necessary 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) consideration of opportunities for utilizing the site as part of educational programs serving both students and visitors; (b) consideration of opportunities 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 accommodate both public and private use, and strategies for management planning for protection, development and use. It shall also include an estimate 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 responsibilities under this act.
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to establish a geoparks task force to provide a plan for the identification of and make recommendations for educational opportunities associated with geological sites as geoparks throughout the state
Purpose
Establishes a geoparks task force to survey and formulate a plan for identifying sites for a system of geoparks, and a management and development strategy.
Summary of provisions
Establishes a geoparks task force. Within 24 months of the effective date, the task force shall submit a report to the governor and the legislature identifying sites with significant geological resources meeting the criteria specifically mentioned in the text of the bill. This report shall also include recommendations for programs to accommodate both public and private use and strategies for management planning for protection, development and use. It shall also include an estimate of public and private cost to implement recommendations in the report. The task force shall conduct three public hearings in different areas of the state while preparing the report. Members of the taskforce receive no compensation for their service.
Justification
The state of New York is geologically rich with numerous and diverse significant geological sites. In the 19th century, the state was a world center for the study of geology and the State Museum along with a number of private and public institutions of higher education teach and under take geological research. The 178 parks in the New York State park system have at least 68 significant geological sites. Greater recognition of the State's geologic resources would foster wider education about these resources and a sustainable socioeconomic development strategy for geoparks.
Legislative history
2011-12 A.6213- Tourism, Parks, Arts, and Sports Development 2013-14 A.5964- Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports Development 2016- S5498 - Passed Senate.
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.