Research

This Commission was created by Executive Order on October 10, 1953 to investigate the operations and management of New York harness racing associations, corporations, and tracks and of the New York State Harness Racing Commission. The investigation was prompted by the August 28, 1953 murder of Thomas F. Lewis, President of Local 32-E, Building Service Employees International Union, A.F. of L. This union claimed jurisdiction over several hundred employees at Yonkers Raceway. Questionable hiring and other practices were revealed at Yonkers Raceway following Lewis' murder.

Composed of ten members appointed in equal numbers by the Senate majority leader and the speaker of the Assembly, the committee held public hearings in the summer and fall of 1943. These hearings and research conducted by the committee's counsel produced over 200 exhibits including charts, tables, maps, engineering reports, and other documents. Many of these exhibits were included in the revised edition of the committee's complete report, which was issued in 1945. The committee's recommendations were enacted with minor modifications as chapter 1035 of the laws of 1957.

The Joint Legislative Committee on Consumer Protection was created by a June 3, 1964 Concurrent Resolution to investigate high prices, consumer fraud, misleading advertising, and other areas involving consumer protection. Each year the committee held a series of public hearings, drafted legislation to remediate unfair practices, testified before other legislative committees and government agencies, and generally attempted to keep the public informed of their rights as consumers.

The Historical Records Survey (HRS) was authorized by Presidential Letter No. 1090 on November 15, 1935 to locate and measure local records, to study preservation methods, and to make recommendations concerning maintenance and use. Initially, the HRS was subordinate to the Federal Writers' Project. After a year of conflict between Writers' Project and HRS executive staff, the survey was separated from the Writers' Project and made a full, independent member of Federal Project One, in November 1936.

Legislation in 1963 (Chapters 932 and 933) established and specified the functions of the Mental Hygiene Facilities Improvement Fund. The Fund was created as a public benefit corporation to expedite planning, construction, and reconstruction of state hospitals, schools, and other mental hygiene care, maintenance, treatment, and research and training facilities.

Disruptions to established trade routes during the early years of World War II left America in short supply of such materials as rubber and gasoline, and coordinated efforts to conserve these items were begun in 1941. As the fighting escalated, and with America's entry into the war, the demand increased for items that would be used specifically for the war effort, such as metals, rags, paper, and waste fat. Cut off from usual suppliers, it became clear that the country would have to reclaim the needed materials from used items.

New York State's first constitution in 1777, and subsequent constitutions of 1821, 1846, and 1894, vested supreme executive power and authority in a governor. Colonial precedents for a governor as executive officer were the director general, who administered New Netherland under the Dutch from 1624 to 1664; and the royal governor, who administered the colony under the British until 1776.

This Commission, established by legislation of 1962 (Chapter 211), was charged with making a comprehensive review and appraisal of the system of state assistance to local governments and recommending revisions in the state aid system (except for programs of aid to local school districts).

After the United States entered World War II, civil defense workers and other civilians required specific, accurate training to handle the variety of tasks needed to deal with the possible threats facing New Yorkers. Thus, the Office of War Training was formed on June 15, 1942 to act as a comprehensive service agency for planning statewide civilian training, including the acquisition or production of instructional materials and films. The office also developed and maintained standards for civilian war instruction and assisted in coordinating and supervising all war training programs.

New York State Social Services Law, ss.20(d) authorizes the Department of Social Services to supervise local social service districts. Each county represents one district while New York City's five counties are consolidated into a single district. The Local District Liaison Unit serves as the primary contact between the local districts and the Department's various divisions. All directives, policies, regulatory changes, and other information is passed from the Department to local districts through this unit.