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.
From the opening of the first State prison in 1797 until the present day, New York State's correctional system has had a wide influence on the direction of criminology and penology in the United States. Among the important early institutions established in New York State were: Newgate Prison (1797), Auburn Prison (1818), New York House of Refuge (1824), Sing Sing Prison (1828), Dannemora Prison (1845), Western House of Refuge (1849), Elmira Reformatory (1876), and Bedford Hills Reformatory for Women (1901).
New York's first constitution in 1777 established the office of lieutenant governor. The constitutional powers and duties of the office have remained unchanged except for the alteration of the term of office from three to two years under the second (1821) constitution, back to three years by an amendment in 1876 to the third (1846) constitution, back to two years under the fourth (1894) constitution, and finally to its present four years by an amendment in 1937.
The New York State Archives is part of the Office of Cultural Education, an office of the New York State Education Department.