Research

Provision for this facility was originally made by legislation of 1890 (Chapter 238), in "An Act to provide for the establishment of a house of refuge for women in western New York."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.

In 1948, the Division of Communicable Diseases became the Bureau of Communicable Disease Control in the newly organized Division of Medical Services. The change in status reflected the enormous drop in morbidity and mortality rates for communicable diseases as sulfanomides and then antibiotics came into common use. The Bureau continued the case surveillance and technical assistance activities of the former Division.

Laws of 1833, Chapter 56 established a Second Deputy Comptroller to perform the duties of the Comptroller relating to canals, except for the Comptroller's duties as a Commissioner of the Canal Fund. Legislation of 1840 (Chapter 288, Section 12) abolished the Second Deputy Comptroller and directed the Commissioners of the Canal Fund to appoint a chief clerk to perform those duties and to act as clerk of the Canal Board. This office was in turn abolished by Laws of 1848, Chapter 162, which established the Auditor of the Canal Department as chief fiscal officer of the canals.

The Commission to Investigate Provision for the Mentally Deficient was created (Laws of 1914, Chapter 272) to examine the existing system for the care and training of the mentally deficient, including epileptics, and to make recommendations to the Legislature for improvement. The Commission was tied closely to the work of the State Board of Charities; Robert W. Hebberd, Secretary of the Board, was Chairman of the Commission and Commission staff used the Board's office and resources. The Commission submitted its final report to the Legislature in February 1915.

The Eastern New York Reformatory was established by a law of 1892 (Chapter 336). The reformatory was to be located in Ulster County and to provide for the custody, care, and reform of male convicts. The governor was to appoint three commissioners to choose a site for the reformatory. In 1894 (Chapter 299), the governor appointed three building commissioners to acquire the land chosen for the reformatory and to obtain building plans and estimates. When the State Board of Charities approved the plans, construction could begin.

The Department of Charities was established by the Laws of 1926 (Chapter 651), following the constitutional reorganization of State government. The administrative head of the department was the State Board of Charities, originally established in 1867. The department implemented the public-assistance policies and programs of the Board of Charities and assumed administrative control of institutions for dependents from the local boards of managers.

The department traces its origin to 1625 when Dutch colonial authorities appointed a schout-fiscal to examine the accounts of New Amsterdam. In 1658, a Board of Audit consisting of a director general, receiver general, and a council member assumed auditing responsibilities. After the English took control of the colony in 1664, the auditing function was carried out by a royally appointed auditor general.

State banking policy began with an act in 1782 prohibiting the operation of any bank within the State except for the Federal Bank of North America. In 1791, the legislature authorized a charter for the first State bank, the Bank of New York, and thereafter chartered other banks by special acts. A law in 1829 (Chapter 94) set up the Bank Fund, later renamed the Safety Fund, to guarantee the payment of debts of insolvent banks. All State-chartered banks were required to make an annual contribution to the fund, which was managed by the State treasurer.