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In 1867, the legislature established the Board of State Commissioners of Public Charities to inspect and report to the legislature all publicly funded charitable and custodial institutions. Legislation in 1873 replaced this board with a new State Board of Charities, mandated licensing of public and private institutions for the mentally ill, and created the office of state commissioner in lunacy. This commissioner's office was abolished in 1889 and replaced by an independent State Commission in Lunacy consisting of three gubernatorial appointees.

The Thomas Asylum for Orphan and Destitute Indian Children was incorporated as a private institution receiving some state aid in 1855 (Chapter 233). The asylum was located within the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation in Erie County and was charged to receive destitute and orphaned children from all Indian reservations in the state. It was named for Philip E. Thomas, a benefactor of New York's Indians and early financial backer of the asylum.

The colonial courts of vice admiralty were branches of the High Court of Admiralty in London. The New York court covered New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. The governor was commissioned as vice admiral but he appointed the presiding judge and other officers of the court. Jurisdiction of the court included all litigation relating to maritime commerce, though certain types of cases could be tried either in this court or in the regular common law courts.

The first board for the "examination and licensing of all druggists...and prescription clerks" was established by law in 1871 (Chapter 202). The board's jurisdiction was limited to New York City and its members were appointed by the mayor. Prior to this law the practice of pharmacy in New York City was regulated by the New York College of Pharmacy under authority granted by an 1832 law (Chapter 326). In 1872 the board established the previous year was reorganized as the New York City Board of Pharmacy (Chapter 817).

In 1919, the New York State Legislature established the Joint Legislative Committee to Investigate Seditious Activities (Concurrent Resolution, March 26, 1919). This committee was given broad authority to investigate individuals and organizations in the state who were suspected of promoting the overthrow of the American government in violation of the criminal anarchy articles of the state's Penal Code.

The State's supervision of adult education began with the appointment in 1917 of the first supervisor of immigrant education. The focus of the State's program was to provide immigrants over the age of 16 with instruction in English, American history, civics, and other topics promoting "good citizenship." This work was carried out by the Division of Vocational and Extension Education within which a Bureau of Adult Education was established during school year 1928-1929.

The school was originally established as the New York State Institution for the Blind by Chapter 587 of the Laws of 1865. Under that law the governor appointed commissioners to select a site, to contract for construction of school buildings, and to lease a building temporarily until construction was completed. Initially repairs were made to a former seminary in Binghamton, New York, but opening of the new school was delayed.

Provision for this facility was originally made by legislation of 1890 (Chapter 238), in "An Act to provide for the establishment of a house of refuge for women in western New York." The facility was to be located in the 7th or 8th judicial district and to be known as the Western House of Refuge for Women. The governor was to appoint five state residents, including at least two women, as a board of managers who were to purchase land and buy or construct buildings.

The State Board of Elections was created by Laws of 1974, Chapter 604. This New York State Campaigns, Elections, and Procedures Law, initiating major election reform in the State, was a response to increasing public demand for closer bipartisan government supervision of the electoral process and a more detailed accounting of campaign activities by candidates for public office, a demand that had been accelerated by the disclosures of misuse of public office and misappropriation of campaign funds during the Watergate affair.

The Board of Railroad Commissioners was originally created in 1855 (Chapter 526) but was abolished, at the urging of two of its members, two years later (Laws of 1857). With the expansion and development of the state's railroad system, the board was reestablished in 1882 (Chapter 353) and first met on February 1, 1883.