Enrolled Copy H.B. 302
1 PALEONTOLOGICAL LANDMARK AMENDMENTS
2024 GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Joseph Elison Senate Sponsor: Don L. Ipson
2
3 LONG TITLE
4 General Description:
5 This bill modifies provisions related to paleontological landmarks.
6 Highlighted Provisions:
7 This bill:
8 ▸ modifies the process to designate a state paleontological landmark;
9 ▸ addresses ownership and control of a state paleontological landmark;
10 ▸ amends the permitting requirements to excavate on a privately owned paleontological
11 landmark; and
12 ▸ makes technical changes.
13 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
14 None
15 Other Special Clauses:
16 None
17 Utah Code Sections Affected:
18 AMENDS:
19 79-3-505, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 188
20
21 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
22 Section 1. Section 79-3-505 is amended to read:
23 79-3-505 . Paleontological landmarks.
24 (1) (a) [Sites] A site of significance or [sites] a site with exceptional fossils may be
25 designated as a state paleontological landmark by:
26 (i) [recommended to and approved by the board as state paleontological landmarks]
27 recommendation to and approval of the board; or
 H.B. 302 Enrolled Copy
28 (ii) approval of the Legislature and the governor through concurrent resolution.
29 (b) (i) The director shall notify the board if a concurrent resolution described in
30 Subsection (1)(a)(ii) is introduced by the Legislature.
31 (ii) If the board receives a recommendation described in Subsection (1)(a)(i) or notice
32 described in Subsection (1)(b)(i), the survey may prepare a report on the impacts
33 of the proposed state paleontological landmark and submit the report to the
34 Legislature and the governor.
35 [(b)] (c) No privately owned site, a site on school or institutional trust lands, or a site on
36 lands owned or controlled by a city that has a paleontology museum may be so
37 designated without the written consent of the owner or the trust.
38 (d) The ownership or control of a site or the site's fossils does not change upon
39 designation as a state paleontological landmark.
40 (2) A person may not excavate on a privately owned [designated] state paleontological
41 landmark without a permit from the survey unless the landmark is located in a city with
42 a paleontological museum that employs a paleontologist.
43 (3) Before an alteration is commenced on a [designated] state paleontological landmark,
44 three months notice of intent to alter the site shall be given the survey.
45 Section 2. Effective date.
46 This bill takes effect on May 1, 2024.
-2-


Statutes affected:
Introduced: 79-3-505
Enrolled: 79-3-505
H.B. 302 1st Substitute (Not Adopted) Text: 79-3-505
Amended: 79-3-505