Research

This Commission was created to make a comprehensive review of the administration and application of the real property tax and make recommendations to assure that the burden of taxation is equitably distributed while sound social, economic and governmental purposes are served. The Commission made its final report to the Governor and Legislature on March 31, 1988.

A series of highly publicized scandals rocked the government of New York City from 1985 to 1986. In response, in March 1986, Governor Mario Cuomo and New York City Mayor Ed Koch appointed a State-City Commission on Integrity in Government to recommend improvements in laws, regulations, and procedures regarding prevention of corruption, favoritism, undue influence, and abuse of government office. The commission's report identified serious flaws in existing laws, regulations, and procedures and recommended appointment of a new commission with investigatory powers.

The Temporary State Commission on Rental Housing was established in 1977 (Chapter 203) to investigate the supplies, conditions, and economics of and demand for rental housing throughout the State of New York. There were four separate rent regulatory programs in simultaneous operation in 1977 in New York. The commission was to analyze the operations and effects of these four rent laws and to make recommendations as to what changes were needed, if any. The Rental Housing Commission submitted its final report to Governor Hugh L. Carey in 1980.

On September 9, 1971 a group of inmates at Attica Correctional Facility, a maximum security prison in western New York, began an uprising which lasted for five days. One guard, William Quinn, was killed and forty guards and civilian employees were taken hostage. The prisoners managed to gain control over parts of the prison, including D-yard. Negotiations began and demands were issued for such things as improved living conditions and educational opportunities, but the talks fell through. Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller ordered Attica to be taken by force.

The Legislative Commission on Solid Waste Management was established in 1984 to evaluate existing solid waste management practices in New York with particular attention to areas of the state with a severe shortage of landfill capacity. The Commission consists of five Assemblymen and five Senators and is headed by an Executive Director. The Commission's function was to research solid waste management issues and recommend legislation in this area.

The Bureau is responsible for carrying out the Department of State's function to advise municipalities on law. The Bureau accomplishes this by advising municipalities on such issues as: planning and zoning laws; reapportionment of local legislative bodies; home rule powers; county and city charters; municipal cooperation agreements; and local government incorporations, dissolutions, mergers, and annexations.

Created by Chapter 987 of the Laws of 1970, the commission consisted of 11 state citizens: three appointed by the temporary president of the senate; three appointed by the speaker of the assembly; and five appointed by the governor. The commission was chaired by Senator William T. Conklin. In March 1971 the legislature appropriated {dollar}18 million as an emergency aid to cultural institutions. The funds, received from the New York State Council on the Arts, supported institutions engaged in the arts and humanities, libraries, education, and recreation.

The Rural Education Bureau was established by the Board of Regents in 1923 and upgraded to Division status in 1932. During the major departmental reorganization of 1937 its functions were transferred to the new Division of School Administrative Services. In 1941, upon the death of the long time division director, the functions were transferred by the Commissioner to the Assistant Commissioner for Instructional Supervision and the Division was abolished shortly thereafter.

The Municipal Assistance Corporation for the City of New York (MAC) was established through State legislation on June 10, 1975 in order to address the New York City government's severe fiscal crisis in the spring of 1975, when the City was unable to pay its bills and a default on outstanding debt was likely. Creation of the Corporation was recommended to Governor Hugh L. Carey by a special panel comprised of Simon H. Rifkind, Felix G. Rohatyn, Richard M. Shinn and Donald B. Smiley.

The New York State Emergency Financial Control Board for the City of Yonkers was created in 1975 (Ch. 871) to oversee the financial recovery of the then nearly bankrupt city of Yonkers. With the approval of the board, the city developed a financial plan to cope with the crisis. The act of 1975 gave the Board the right of approval and disapproval of all contracts and loans entered into by the city.