New York State Counsel to the Governor Governor's Bill Files

Chronological by one-or two-year period; then alphabetical by program area/law/department; then numerical by program bill number.

This series consists of legislative bills and memoranda prepared by Governor Mario Cuomo's Counsel's Office to promote the governor's legislative program. Each bill relates to a particular program area, law, or department of state government, such as agriculture, education, health, social services, or tax. These files are particularly significant in that they contain original versions of bills which often differ considerably from the final versions voted upon by the legislature. In some cases, particularly for bills which did not pass the legislature, these might be the only existing copies of the proposed legislation.

Documentation for each bill usually includes typescript copy of the original bill with the program bill number written at the top right corner; typescript copies of revised versions of the bills, distinguished by an "R" (or, rarely, an "A") suffix to the program bill number (e.g. 185R, 185RR); and memorandum regarding the original and/or revised bill.

The memorandum provides purpose of the bill; summary of provisions, usually outlining each section of the bill; existing law, sometimes followed by a brief legislative history; statement in support, explaining why the law is necessary or beneficial; and budgetary implications.

These memoranda are very similar to those found in series 12590, Legislative Bill and Veto Jackets. In rare cases there is also a memorandum from the counsel to the assistant counsel directing the assistant counsel to review the program bill and related memorandum and to indicate if they are ready for introduction in the legislature. However, most of these were removed from the files by the governor's office.

Microfilm 14 rolls : 16 mm.

12590Series 12590, Legislative Bill and Veto Jackets, contains related records.

Roll list is available at the repository.

This microfilm was produced by the State Archives in 1995 from 15 cubic feet of paper records. Originals were returned to the Executive Department and are presumed destroyed. The silver film was transferred to Records Center storage as documented by transfer list 95-2 (containers #145-158). No copies were reproduced for reference use.

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