HB 668

Abstract

Field investigations permit; archaeologist qualifications; penalty. Establishes standards for education, experience, ability, and other factors for a field supervisor who is identified in an application to the Director of the Department of Conservation and Recreation for a permit to conduct a field investigation, exploration, or recovery operation involving any object of antiquity on state-controlled land or on a state archaeological site or zone. The bill provides that the Director may consider the field supervisor's performance on any prior permitted investigation in determining whether the person meets such standards. The bill provides that conducting an investigation without a permit or willfully misrepresenting information (i) on a permit application or (ii) collected during a permitted field investigation is a crime punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor.

Field investigations permit; archaeologist qualifications; penalty. Establishes standards for education, experience, ability, and other factors for a field supervisor who is identified in an application to the Director of the Department of Conservation and Recreation for a permit to conduct a field investigation, exploration, or recovery operation involving any object of antiquity on state-controlled land or on a state archaeological site or zone. The bill provides that the Director may consider the field supervisor's performance on any prior permitted investigation in determining whether the person meets such standards. The bill provides that conducting an investigation without a permit or willfully misrepresenting information (i) on a permit application or (ii) collected during a permitted field investigation is a crime punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor.

Field investigations permit; archaeologist qualifications. Restricts the type of applicant to whom the Director of the Department of Conservation and Recreation may issue a permit to conduct any type of field investigation, exploration, or recovery operation involving any object of antiquity on state-controlled land or on a state archaeological site or zone. Current law provides that an applicant for such permit can be a historic, scientific, or educational institution, professional archaeologist, or amateur who is qualified and recognized in the area of field investigations or archaeology. The bill specifies that an applicant may no longer be an institution and must be a qualified professional archaeologist who meets or exceeds certain minimum standards of education, experience, and demonstrated knowledge before being issued such permit.