New York State Department of Law Legislative Bureau Legislative Program Bill Files

Chronological by year, then numerical by bill number.

Memoranda:Arranged by house (senate or assembly), then chronological by year, then numerical by bill number.

15433-92A, 15433-94:Arranged by type of record and therein roughly chronological or alphabetical by issue/subject.

15433-95, 15433-02:Roughly chronological and therein by subject.

15433-96:Arranged partially by bill number; partially by subject.

15433-98:Chronological by year, then either numerical by program bill number, or arranged by subject.

15433-98A:The 1987-1989 bills are arranged by number assigned by Office of Attorney General; 1990 bills are roughly by senate or assembly bill number.

15433-10:Arranged roughly by subject and therein chronological.

15433-92A: This accretion consists of background files and hearing materials, including draft data, memorandums, and preparatory reports, on criminal justice reform and several other major issues that resulted in legislation. Copies of bills are also present in the files, as well as newspaper clippings for selected issues.

Examples of specific court reform issues for which there are files include: asset forfeiture; computer crime; drug enforcement; and gun control. Other major issues for which there are background files include: cable television privacy; consumer product warranties; pension hearings; and rent security conveyances.

15433-94: This accretion contains copies of legislative proposals, correspondence, memorandums, and meeting materials pertaining to the New York State Law Enforcement Council (LEC), of which Attorney General Robert Abrams was a member, and public hearings on the Organized Crime Control Act (OCCA), of which Abrams was a proponent. The LEC records are primarily review copies of council proposals and related correspondence (much of it by Abrams commenting on the proposals). The OCCA files contain agendas, witness lists, memorandums on the legislation, summaries of hearing testimony, and related newspaper clippings.

15433-94A: This accretion consists of copies of bills, language amendments, and memorandums concerning legislation introduced at the request of the Department of Law, representing the legislative program of Attorney General Robert Abrams for the 1989-1990 session. Bill memorandums prepared by department staff give bill title, description, effective date, purpose, legislative history, fiscal impact, penal sanctions, and a statement in support of the legislation. Also present in the files are copies of newsletters from the attorney general, background materials, notes, and publications on issues by or for specific constituencies, and topical summaries on legislative activity.

15433-94B: This accretion consists of bill files for legislation proposed by the attorney general during the 1991-1992 legislative session, and memorandums (1985-1988) to the governor from the attorney general (with reprints of bills) commenting on the impact of legislation introduced in the senate and assembly.

15433-94C: This accretion consists of program bill files for the years 1984-1986, correspondence, reports, and other background material dealing principally with consumer protection and fraud issues. Issues covered include tenants' rights, evictions, rent increases, discrimination in rental car agencies, sales tax evasion, used car warranties, restitution as a condition of probation, and debt collection practices. Background material includes notes on testimony, proposed hearing questions, clippings, and lists of witnesses.

15433-95: These files contain bills, memorandums, correspondence, drafts, notes and background materials relating to program bills proposed and developed during the tenure of Attorney General Robert Abrams. The proposed legislation encompasses a variety of environmental issues including: hazardous waste, wetlands, recycling, landfills, acid rain, water pollution, and the "Bottle Bill."

15433-96: These files document the Department of Law's own program bills, from initial conception to final passage (or defeat in committee on the floor). Program bills initiated by the department cover a wide range of issues, including consumer finance, hazardous products and substances, housing codes, and civil and criminal procedure.

A typical file contains copies of the legislative bill, the attorney general's memorandum in support of the bill; internal memorandums discussing issues of concerns and possible legislation; correspondence of staff attorneys and the attorney general with legislators and interest groups; and department news releases on general issues and specific bills. Often there are working drafts of both the bill and memorandum of support. Many files also contain additional material documenting the bill: transcripts of testimony at legislative hearings; relevant portions of assembly debates; and published material such as clippings, articles, reports, and pamphlets (either photocopies or originals).

15433-98: This accretion consists of legislative program bill files of attorneys general Louis J. Lefkowitz (1957-1959, 1971-1973) and G. Oliver Koppell (1994). Lefkowitz's files are arranged by Dept. of Law program bill number and contain copies of proposed legislation and brief explanations of the proposed intent of the bills. Koppell's files are arrranged by subject (e.g., "Sat. Night Specials", "Ballot Access", "Truck Underride Guards"), and contents vary widely. They usually contain a copy of proposed legislation and may contain support memos, news clippings, and other background material. The "Underride" file contains four VHS videotapes (three produced by Citizens for Reliable and Safe Highways and one produced by ABC Prime Time Live, shown on January 9, 1997).

15433-98A: Scattered bill files (1987, 1989-1990) contained in this accretion concern such consumer related issues as tenant rights; age discrimination; insurance claims and premium financing; home improvements; food labeling; all-terrain vehicle standards; registration of travel agents; and lease renewals. Copies of bills are included as well as press releases, newspaper clippings internal memorandums, and opinion memorandums of the Attorney General.

15433-02: This accretion contains bill files pertaining to environmental issues such as hazardous waste treatment, storage, and disposal; acid deposition; use of forest lands for recreational purposes; lead abatement; the New York State Superfund; freshwater wetland conservation; alternative fuel vehicles; sewage treatment; nuclear waste disposal; conversion of electric power plants to coal; and citizens' rights to initiate environmental proceedings.

15433-10: This accretion consists of materials created by the Department of Law, Labor Bureau during the years 1987-1995. Materials relate to labor issues that the department sought to address during the tenure of Attorney General Robert Abrams. Files include copies of labor legislation, both vetoed and passed; hearings, bills, and legislative ideas relating to employee labor issues; interagency correspondence including suggested changes and opinions regarding legislation; governor's memorandums; Labor Bureau programs; and a legislative index of bills for 1992. Subjects include employees' health insurance; workers' compensation; labor law violations; child labor regulations; and prevailing wages.

15433-98A: Includes an index for 1987-1988 bills.

15433-10: Includes an index for 1992 bills.

Container lists for accretions not referenced in this finding aid are available at the repository.

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of this material.