New York Codes, Rules and Regulations
Title 9 - EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
Subtitle A - Governor's Office
Chapter I - Executive Orders
Part 4 - Executive Orders (Mario M. Cuomo)
Section 4.120 - Executive order no. 120: establishing the statewide anti-drug abuse council

I. Membership

The members of the Council shall be the Lieutenant Governor, who shall be the Chairperson of the Council, the State Director of Criminal Justice, the Commissioner of Education, the Commissioner of Health, the Director of Substance Abuse Services and the Director of Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse.

II. Powers and Responsibilities

The Statewide Anti-Drug Abuse Council shall:

III. Personnel

The Statewide Anti-Drug Abuse Council shall be authorized to use existing staff and resources of State agencies, which are hereby directed to render full cooperation and assistance to the Council.

IV. Reports

The Council shall prepare periodic reports to the Governor on its progress in developing effective strategies to address the far-reaching effects of drug abuse. To assure timely coordination of its proposals with the preparation of the Executive Budget and the development of necessary legislative initiatives, the Council shall provide detailed reports on its activities and make its recommendations on anti-drug abuse strategies to the Governor no later than October 1, 1989, and annually thereafter.

Signed: Mario M. CuomoDated: January 20, 1989

WHEREAS, the phenomenon of drug abuse and the crime, violence, corruption and human suffering it engenders is universally recognized as one of the most urgent and intractable problems of our time;

WHEREAS, this evil has spread throughout our society, affecting rich and poor, young and old, urban, suburban and rural communities alike;

WHEREAS, the evils spawned by drug abuse manifest themselves in the form of crime, corruption, disease, drug addiction, family disruption and domestic violence, the blighting of communities, the spread of AIDS, and a loss of public confidence in the ability of the institutions of government to address these evils;

WHEREAS, the multiplicity of problems engendered by the abuse of drugs, including alcohol, demands a most vigorous and concerted response on many fronts simultaneously, addressing the needs for the improvement and enforcement of the drug laws, the development and provision of substance abuse treatment for drug dependent persons, scientific research into the causes and cure of drug addiction, education of the public, especially young people, to the dangers of drug abuse and the consequences of drug crime, and efforts to address the consequences to the public health and the public health care system imposted by rampant drug abuse;

WHEREAS, the People of the State of New York, through their State and Local Governments, through their schools and through their voluntary and civic associations are in fact already committed to an all out campaign against drugs;

WHEREAS, the People of the State of New York have and will continue to devote tremendous public resources and energies to the campaign against drugs;

WHEREAS, at any time, and especially in time of strained public resources, strict accountability and solid assurance of the careful and intelligent expenditure of public resources must be maintained by the officers and agencies entrusted by the People with the conduct of public affairs;

WHEREAS, the effectiveness of our drug abuse control efforts and the assurance of the effective and prudent expenditure of public resources requires the assessment, improvement and coordination of the programs and policies of our law enforcement, substance and alcohol abuse, education, health and other public agencies which constitute aspects of our campaign against drugs;

WHEREAS, the involvement of the private sector, including community-based groups who minister to the needs of the drug and alcohol dependent, who work with youth, who represent parents and teachers, and who work together for civic and neighborhood improvement or for educational or charitable purposes, is essential if we are to fully mobilize all of the resources, the determination and the creative energy of our society;

WHEREAS, an effort of such magniture and consequence as our war on drugs requires clear focus, effective direction, close coordination and continuity that are best provided by the establishment of a council of those State officials who are charged with the execution of the State's policies and programs in the areas of law enforcement, education, drug and alcohol abuse prevention and treatment and the public health;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Mario M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and Laws of the State of New York, do hereby establish the Statewide Anti-Drug Abuse Council.