What's happening
This bill creates a task force to identify geological sites for designation as geoparks and recommend related educational and development opportunities statewide.
Why it matters
Potential to boost local economies. By identifying and promoting geological sites as geoparks, the task force could attract geotourism and related business opportunities, supporting sustainable economic development in various communities across New York.
Enhanced educational opportunities. The bill emphasizes integrating geological sites into educational programs for both students and the public, which could lead to increased interest in earth sciences, environmental stewardship, and STEM careers statewide.
Preservation and awareness of geological heritage. The task force is tasked with developing strategies for the conservation and enhancement of New York’s geological heritage, fostering a broader understanding of environmental and geoscientific issues.
Collaborative and inclusive approach. By requiring input from state, local, federal, and international (UNESCO) stakeholders, as well as public hearings, the process aims to ensure diverse perspectives in planning, management, and use—balancing conservation, education, and development goals.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
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
- Referred to tourism, parks, arts and sports development
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 Geoparks Task Force
In Senate Committee · Finance · Sponsor George Amedore
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5650
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 14, 2019
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 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 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.
LBD01220-01-9
A. 5650 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 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.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.