Research

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.

The Board of Commissioners of Public Charities, established in 1867 (Ch. 951) to visit and inspect public almshouses and all charitable and correctional institutions (except prisons) receiving State aid, was the first State supervisory body to coordinate public welfare programs. Before this, public assistance programs were independently operated by county and town authorities and private agencies. The board consisted of eight gubernatorial appointees, one from each judicial district. The Board was renamed the State Board of Charities in 1873 (Chapter 571).

New York businesses alleviated the labor shortage caused by World War II by turning to women, who left their domestic roles to find good wages in defense-related industries. In addition to single women and childless wives, mothers answered the call to work, and their necessity in the work force, combined with the needs of their children, gave rise to state-sponsored child care. The New York State War Council, as part of its duty to ensure an adequate labor supply, recognized the need for child care programs and in 1942 organized the Committee on Child Care, Development, and Protection.

The Board of Commissioners of Public Charities, established in 1867 (Ch. 951) to visit and inspect public almshouses and all charitable and correctional institutions (except prisons) receiving State aid, was the first State supervisory body to coordinate public welfare programs. Before this, public assistance programs were independently operated by county and town authorities and private agencies. The board consisted of eight gubernatorial appointees, one from each judicial district. The Board was renamed the State Board of Charities in 1873 (Chapter 571).

The Temporary State Commission on the Constitutional Convention was created by Chapter 443 of the Laws of 1965. The statute directed the commission to make a comprehensive study of the State Constitution with a view to its revision and simplification. The commission was also directed to collect information that would be useful both to delegates to the 1967 constitutional convention and to the people of the state, who would be charged with ratifying any constitutional changes drafted during the convention.

The Office of Civilian Protection (OCP) was the primary operating unit of the Division of Civilian Protection. The OCP recruited, trained, and coordinated the efforts of over 600,000 volunteers organized to prevent and respond to aerial bombings during World War II. Created in May 1941, the office worked in conjunction with the State Police, the State Guard, and the Civil Air Patrol to protect New York from enemy air attacks and to provide a rapid response to the emergencies which could have been caused by such attacks.

The Joint Legislative Committee on Discrimination in Employment of the Middle-Aged was created (Concurrent Resolution, May 7, 1937) to investigate underlying causes of job discrimination of persons over forty years of age and to amend remedial legislation or other measures. The committee existed from 1937 to 1940. It held public hearings and conferences in 1937 and 1938 to receive evidence and recommendations from employees, employers, labor leaders, scientists, government officials, civic organizations, and others.

On March 30, 1836, "An Act to authorize the establishment of the New York State Lunatic Asylum," (Laws of 1836, Chapter 82) was passed. This act empowered the governor, with the consent of the senate, to appoint three commissioners to select a suitable site and authorized the treasurer, on the warrant of the comptroller, to pay a sum not exceeding ten thousand dollars for it. The law also provided that three commissioners be appointed to contract for the erection of the asylum.

During a 1965 site investigation of nursing staff shortages by the Joint Legislative Committee on Problems of Public Health, Medicare, and Medicaid, State Senator Seymour R. Thaler observed poor medical care, understaffing, and waste in New York City's municipal hospitals. His efforts to publicize his findings and to involve state government in seeking remedies prompted Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller to appoint an investigatory panel of distinguished health care experts.

The Board was created by Laws of 1956, Chapter 191 as a demonstration project with a four-year lifespan. Its function was to plan and develop new health and mental health programs in which two or more state agencies had direct concern. Its members were the Commissioners of Health, Social Welfare, Mental Hygiene, Education, Labor, and Corrections; the chairs of the Youth Commission, Board of Parole, and Workmen's Compensation Board; and the Executive Director of the Joint Hospital Survey and Planning Commission.