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NYSAPLS Government Relations Update – Summer 2024

By Amber Carpenter, Managing Director & Emily Whalen, Esq., NYSAPLS Legislative Counsel
Over the past several months, the NYSAPLS Government addition, we’ve shared updates monthly in our online HQ news
Relations Committee has been hard at work on your behalf. If updates as well as the committee’s webpage. Another crucial
you’ve followed along with our monthly HQ updates and/or issue tasked to our committee is improving access to public
visited our Government Relations Committee webpage, you’re land records. See the next paragraph for more information on
already familiar with the committee’s priorities for 2024 that that initiative. For a review of any of our committee’s strategic
include preparing for the 2022 Datum change, completing tasks and/or progress, visit https://www.nysapls.org/page/
their strategic tasks, monitoring bills that affect the profession Strategic2023.
and improving access to public land records.
Access to Public Records
2022 Datum During our strategic retreat in 2022, the challenge of
The committee sought the board’s input on how to best accessing public land data was presented. Members shared
incorporate the new datum (expected to be released late in their frustration with the ability to acquire appropriation
2025) into New York legislation. Since there will most likely mapping and other NYS public agency data. Since then,
be future datum changes beyond the upcoming transition, the we’ve worked diligently with our friends from the NYS GIS
board recommended to draft legislation that would incorporate Association, representatives from the NYSDOT, the NYS GIS
any future changes. After receiving the board’s input and Clearinghouse, several county clerks and other NYS agencies
reviewing a template provided by NGS and NSPS they have to seek a solution. Between meetings, round table events and
put together an initial draft. Once the committee has a chance educational sessions, our committee has made several strides:
to review and finalize the draft, they will share it with the board • A network of contacts was generated to keep the
and our members for further input and prepare to introduce momentum going between our efforts and state agencies
the bill to legislators to seek their support in New York’s 2025
legislative session. • A webpage was added to the NYSAPLS website outlining
the several online mapping portals, documents and related
Strategic Tasks organizations (https://www.nysapls.org/page/Links)

The committee has worked closely with our counsel and • With the help of mapping data provided by the NYS
headquarters staff to increase the transparency of our efforts DOT, our committee created a GIS database that is
and improve communication with our members. Counsel and currently being beta tested
committee reports are given at each board meeting to assist • NYSAPLS has been asked to serve on the NYS Geospatial
your local director in reporting back to their membership. In Advisory Council continued on page 19

EMPIRE STATE SURVEYOR / VOL. 60 • NO 4 2024 • JULY/AUGUST 17