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Established by the Laws of 1953, the Public Health Council consists of the Commissioner of Health plus 14 members appointed by the commissioner with the consent of the of the governor for a 6 year term. The council enacts provisions for the State Sanitary Code, subject to the approval of the Commissioner of Health.

The commission was created by Chapter 699 of the Laws of 1920 to examine and collate laws relating to child welfare. In examining the laws it was the commission's responsiblity to investigate their operation and effect on children, ascertain overlapping and duplication of laws and/or activities of any public office, department or commission, and to propose remedial legislation. An amendment to the 1920 law (Chapter 342 of the Laws of 1921) required the commission to report to the legislature annually and at such other times as required by the governor or president of the senate.

The school opened in 1875 and operated continuously as a private school, with some state support, until it became a wholly state owned and operated facility in 1963. Since that time the school has been under the jurisdiction of the State Education Department and the Board of Regents. The idea to establish a school for the deaf came from Alphonso Johnson, a deaf man who proposed creation of the school to a group of businessmen in Rome, New York, in 1874. Together with Dr. Thomas Gallaudet (oldest son of Thomas H.

The State Defense Council was created by Chapter 369 of the Laws of 1917. Its responsibilities included making "all investigations and plans for efficient coordination and cooperation of the military, industrial, agricultural and commercial resources of the state in time of war". It was charged with the "creation of relations which render possible immediate concentration and utilization of state resources for military purposes".

The New York Water Power Commission was created by Chapter 579, Laws of 1921, which added Article 10-A, Water Power, to the Conservation Law. The Commission was comprised of the Conservation Commissioner (chair), State Engineer, and Surveyor, Attorney-General, President Pro Tem of the Senate, and Speaker of the Assembly. The Commission was directed to investigate the state's developed and undeveloped water power resources and sites. It was enpowered to issue licenses authorizing the diversion and use for power or other purposes of state waters.

The Court is a constitutional court of record with jurisdiction to hear and determine claims against the State or by the State against the claimant or between conflicting claimants, as the Legislature may provide. The Legislature may increase or decrease the number of judges. The Clerk of the Court is appointed and may be removed by the Court. A constitutional amendment approved by the electorate Nov.

The distinction between courts of law and courts of equity was unknown in New Netherland where Dutch-Roman law prevailed. After the English conquest the first court to exercise equity jurisdiction in New York was the Court of Assizes. This court was established in 1664 under the authority of the Duke of York, proprietor of the colony. Equity jurisdiction was conferred upon the court by a 1665 amendment to the Duke's Laws which established the government of the colony.

Chapter 723 of the Laws of 1905 empowered the governor to appoint five citizens, subject to senate approval, who would constitute a commission to be known as the State Water Supply Commission.

The New York State Legislature established the Joint Legislative Committee on Housing to investigate all possible causes of the post-World War I housing shortage. Appointed in May 1919, the Committee (known as the Lockwood Committee) was chaired by Senator Charles C. Lockwood, a three-term Republican from Brooklyn. The committee was assigned to examine the causes for lack of construction of new housing; the increases in rents; possible combinations in building supply and labor; shortcomings of housing financiers; and any other issues related to providing housing.

In 1901 (Chapter 372), the legislature passed the State's first probation law, which provided for the appointment of probation officers by justices of various courts. In 1907, a State Probation Commission was established (Chapter 430) to supervise the work of all probation officers. During the reorganization of State government in 1925-26, this commission was continued as head of the Division of Probation within the Department of Correction.