Research

The Lake George Park and Lake George Park Commission were established in 1961(chapter 454). The "Lake George park" includes the bed, waters, islands, and shore of Lake George and all land in the counties of Essex, Warren, and Washington surrounding said lake and situated within specifically defined boundaries. The park encompasses 300-square miles of land and water lying within these three counties and twelve individual municipalities. 

The New York State Museum originated with the State Geological and Natural History Survey, established by the legislature in 1836 (Chapter 142). It was charged with completing a geological survey of the State and furnishing "a full and scientific description of its rocks, sails and minerals, and of its botanical and zoological productions, together with specimens of the same" to be deposited in the State Library. The State was divided into four districts, each in charge of a geologist who, along with a staff mineralogist, botanist, and zoologist, completed the initial survey in 1842.

The Adirondack Park Agency was created in 1971 (Chapter 706) to ensure the preservation of the Adirondack wilderness area that had been designated as part of a State forest preserve in 1885, and then as the Adirondack Park in 1892. The agency was directed to cooperate with the Department of Environmental Conservation to prepare master plans for managing State land for approval by the governor and to prepare an Adirondack Park Private Land Use Plan for presentation to the legislature.

In 1921, the New York State Legislature created the Motion Picture Commission to review and license motion pictures (Ch. 715, L. 1921). This agency consisted of three commissioners appointed by the governor, as well as supporting staff. The commission functioned until 1927 when, as part of a general consolidation of state government, it was abolished and its duties transferred to the State Education Department (Ch. 544, L. 1926). The Education Department established a Motion Picture Division to carry out the review and licensing responsibilities formerly executed by the commission.

The Western House of Refuge was established as the first state reformatory of the nation by the State Legislature on May 8, 1846 (Laws of 1846, Ch. 143). The report of the Assembly committee preparing the legislation focused on the problem of juveniles being incarcerated with older criminals. In addition it argued that the state-financed but privately managed New York House of Refuge did not serve the western counties of the state (1846, Assembly Document #93). The new institution was opened in August 1849; by the end of the year there were thirty-eight male inmates.

New York's first publicly-supported institution for dependents was established in New York City in 1734. Opened in 1736, the "House of Correction, Workhouse and Poorhouse" housed the poor who refused to work, the poor who were unable to work, and the poor who were willing but unable to find work. Following the opening of this institution, more poorhouses were opened throughout the province. New York's first general hospital, established in 1771 and opened in 1791, also was in New York City. This was the province's first publicly-funded institution providing medical aid to the poor.

In 1967 the Board of Regents published a position paper ("Urban Education: A Statement of Policy and Proposed Action by the Regents of the University of The State of New York") outlining the poverty-related problems of urban schools and calling for a remedial program to alleviate these problems. The following year the State Legislature provided for a temporary apropriation of aid for locally administered programs to meet special education needs associated with urban poverty (Chapter 685).

The New York State Assembly Standing Committee on Governmental Operations' Subcommittee on Affirmative Action researched, compiled information, and reported on affirmative action as it related to the employment of women, minorities, Vietnam Era veterans, and the disabled in New York State government from 1981 to 1986.

Jonathan B. Bingham served as Secretary to the Governor from January 1, 1955 to June 30, 1958 when he went on a leave of absence to run for the New York State Senate. Bingham was Deputy Administrator of the Technical Co-operation Administration or "Point IV" Program from October 1951 to March 1953. During W. Averell Harriman's campaign for Governor, he served as Director of Research for the Citizens' Committee for the Election of Averell Harriman, George B. DeLuca, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Jr., Arthur H. Levitt, and Adrian P. Burke.