Representative Joseph Elison proposes the following substitute bill:


1     
PALEONTOLOGICAL LANDMARK AMENDMENTS

2     
2024 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Joseph Elison

5     
Senate Sponsor: Don L. Ipson

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill modifies provisions related to paleontological landmarks.
10     Highlighted Provisions:
11          This bill:
12          ▸     modifies the process to designate a state paleontological landmark;
13          ▸     addresses ownership and control of a state paleontological landmark;
14          ▸     amends the permitting requirements to excavate on a privately owned
15     paleontological landmark; and
16          ▸     makes technical changes.
17     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
18          None
19     Other Special Clauses:
20          None
21     Utah Code Sections Affected:
22     AMENDS:
23          79-3-505, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 188
24     

25     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
26          Section 1. Section 79-3-505 is amended to read:
27          79-3-505. Paleontological landmarks.
28          (1) (a) [Sites] A site of significance or [sites] a site with exceptional fossils may be
29     designated as a state paleontological landmark by:
30          (i) [recommended to and approved by the board as state paleontological landmarks]
31     recommendation to and approval of the board; or
32          (ii) approval of the Legislature and the governor through concurrent resolution.
33          (b) (i) The director shall notify the board if a concurrent resolution described in
34     Subsection (1)(a)(ii) is introduced by the Legislature.
35          (ii) If the board receives a recommendation described in Subsection (1)(a)(i) or notice
36     described in Subsection (1)(b)(i), the survey may prepare a report on the impacts of the
37     proposed state paleontological landmark and submit the report to the Legislature and the
38     governor.
39          [(b)] (c) No privately owned site, a site on school or institutional trust lands, or a site
40     on lands owned or controlled by a city that has a paleontology museum may be so designated
41     without the written consent of the owner or the trust.
42          (d) The ownership or control of a site or the site's fossils does not change upon
43     designation as a state paleontological landmark.
44          (2) A person may not excavate on a privately owned [designated] state paleontological
45     landmark without a permit from the survey unless the landmark is located in a city with a
46     paleontological museum that employs a paleontologist.
47          (3) Before an alteration is commenced on a [designated] state paleontological
48     landmark, three months notice of intent to alter the site shall be given the survey.
49          Section 2. Effective date.
50          This bill takes effect on May 1, 2024.