New York Consolidated Laws, Education Law - EDN § 235-b. New York state biological survey

(a) Develop and maintain an inventory of the biological resources of New York state, with special emphasis on identifying those resources that are important to biological diversity, have real or potential economic significance, or have particular scientific, systematic, or environmental importance;

(b) Conduct research on and advance the knowledge of the biological and ecological characteristics and processes that constitute or affect New York state's environment;

(c) Interpret and publish the results of research on New York state's biological resources, thereby making information available to citizens, teachers, industry, and government for educational purposes and for use in decision making;

(d) Insure the preservation and appropriate expansion of the state's collection of scientific specimens and artifacts, conduct research on these collections, and make specimens and data available for biological resource studies, ecosystem analyses, and other research projects;  and

(e) Cooperate with the department of environmental conservation, office of parks, recreation and historic preservation, and other state and federal agencies, private organizations and institutions, corporations, and individuals interested in biological resources.