This guide consists of "Governors" pages providing access to resources that are unique to individual gubernatorial administrations and thematic pages that provide access to resources documenting gubernatorial functions across multiple administrations. Additional pages provide access to resources documenting the activities of investigative and advisory bodies established by order of the governor or directed to report findings to the governor’s office.
New York's first state prison, Newgate, opened in New York City in 1797. Newgate was quickly found to be unsatisfactory due to poor construction and the impossibility of developing viable industries. As a result, a commission was formed in 1825 (Chapter 25) for the purpose of building a new state prison in the first or second senatorial district, based on the design of Auburn Prison, which opened in 1816. The commission was authorized to sell Newgate and was appropriated {dollar}70,000 to erect a prison to house 800 convicts.
A law of 1930 (Chapter 825) created a temporary state commission to investigate prison administration and construction. The commission recommended the construction of a new medium security prison at Wallkill. Laws of 1931 (Chapter 14) and 1932 (Chapter 37) appropriated money for construction of the new prison, which opened in 1932. A law of 1934 (Chapter 325) amended the Correction Law, adding Wallkill to the list of state prisons for men.
The Bureau of Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology (BEOE) was created in 1990 to monitor and conduct epidemiological research on environmentally and occupationally related diseases. BEOE was created by merging two bureaus created in 1980. Several BEOE ongoing projects date back to 1980 when its predecessor bureaus began conducting epidemiological research.
The Division of Environmental Enforcement (DEE) was created in the late 1970s as a "strike force" to deal with the enforcement of laws on hazardous waste disposal.
Attica Correctional Facility is a maximum security prison housing males convicted of felonies who are 21 years of age or older committed directly by the Fifth, Sixth, Seventh and Eight judicial districts of New York . It also receives felons 16 years of age and older by transfer from the Elmira Reception Center or other institutions. A 1926 report of the Crime Commission of New York's Sub-Commission on Penal Institutions stated that the state's prisons were operating at 120% of capacity.
In 2011 and 2012, hurricanes and tropical storms caused widespread damage and lasting electrical power outages in large portions of the state. In 2012, under the Moreland Act, Governor Andrew Cuomo appointed a ten-member Moreland Commission on Utility Storm Preparation and Response by Executive Order No. 75 (November 13). The commission was co-chaired by former Attorney General Robert Abrams and Department of Financial Services Superintendent Benjamin Lawsky.
New York State's official involvement in energy issues dates from 1972, when the legislature determined the State's continuing economic growth and development, combined with environmental, social, and other economic issues, required a consolidated energy-planning effort. Chapter 386 of the Laws of 1972 established the Joint Legislative Commission on Energy Policy for the State of New York. The commission, consisting of ten members appointed by the majority and minority leaders of the senate and assembly, was mandated to develop and report on a comprehensive State energy policy.
The New York State Archives is part of the Office of Cultural Education, an office of the New York State Education Department.