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 4.63 - Executive Order No. 63: Creating the State Historical Records Advisory Board and the position of State Historical Records Coordinator. [*][DAGGER][DOUBLE DAGGER]
New York's historical records are an invaluable cultural resource because of the information they provide about New York's people, institutions, communities and governments. Only through study of the records of the past can we fully understand the present and plan intelligently for the future. Historians, public policy analysts, sociologists, scientists, demographers, and many other specialists draw on historical records for research.
Historical records also have immediate, practical uses for the citizens of New York: they document legal rights and responsibilities; they provide information needed by managers of institutions, including State and local governments, to analyze program development and to ensure the continuity of administration; they offer essential documentation on the State's infrastructure; and they contain data useful for research into current issues. The records created by our governments provide citizens with the means to measure the effectiveness and economy of programs and to ensure the accountability of public officials.
It is appropriate that sound programs for the identification, preservation, management, and use of historical records be encouraged by State government on behalf of all New Yorkers. In order to encourage, assist, and coordinate the most effective preservation and administration of historical records in the State, it is necessary and desirable to establish the State Historical Records Advisory Board to be chaired by the State Historical Records Coordinator.
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 the laws of the State of New York, do hereby establish the New York State Historical Records Advisory Board ("Board") and the position of State Historical Records Coordinator ("Coordinator").
General Powers and Duties
The Board shall serve as an advisory and coordinating body for planning programs and projects for the collection, description, management and use of historical records. Specifically, the Board shall:
- develop, promulgate, and maintain on a current basis a statement of goals and priorities for historical records programs in New York State;
- encourage the development of coordinated documentation strategies and collaborative programming to ensure systematic and cost-effective historical records programs;
- encourage cooperation among organizations, institutions and groups interested in historical records programs;
- encourage the development of educational and informational programs to increase public awareness of the importance of historical records;
- sponsor surveys and gather information on historical records and on historical records programs and repositories;
- encourage broader and more varied use of historical records for the benefit of the citizens of the State;
- review and evaluate applications from within the State for funding under the historical records program of the National Historical Publications and Records Commission;
- cooperate with other Federal or State funding agencies that provide support for historical records projects;
- encourage broader support of historical records programs by the general public and by private sector funding sources;
- make recommendations for the improvement of the keeping of historical records throughout the State; and
- undertake directly, when necessary and when resources are available, special projects of high priority and of statewide significance.
Once each year, the board shall report to the Governor on the condition of historical records in the State and on progress toward the goals and priorities identified by the board.
Membership
The board shall consist of 13 members, exclusive of the coordinator, at least a majority of whom shall have recognized experience in the administration of historical records or archives, and the coordinator, who shall serve as chairperson. Five members shall serve for an initial term of one year; four members shall serve for an initial term of two years; four members shall serve for an initial term of three years; and the coordinator shall serve for an initial term of four years. Thereafter, all members shall serve for a term of three years, except the coordinator who shall serve for a term of four years. All terms shall end on the 30th day of April.
The members of the board shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for travel and actual expenses from funds appropriated for this purpose (through the State Archives).
State Historical Records Coordinator
The State Archivist shall serve as the State Historical Records Coordinator. The State Archives shall serve as the board's secretariat in supporting and carrying out its activities. The coordinator's responsibilities shall include, but not be limited to, coordinating, monitoring and reporting on projects and activities undertaken by the board; gathering and assembling information for the board on other projects, programs and activities relating to historical records; serving as liaison with the National Historical Publications and Records Commission, making available information on that Commission's grant program and preparing the board's recommendations on applications to the commission from within New York State; serving as the board's liaison to State and local government agencies and officials on matters relating to historical records programs; and, where appropriate, serving as project director for projects administered directly by the board.
Cooperation of Other State Agencies
All State agencies having custody of, or responsibility for, historical records of the State, shall cooperate with, support, and provide assistance to, the board and the coordinator.
Executive Order Number 38, dated August 25, 1976, is revoked and superseded by this Executive Order.
Signed: Mario M. Cuomo
Dated: May 17, 1985
Footnotes
* [Revokes and supersedes Executive Order No. 38 (Hugh L. Carey), § 3.38, supra.]
[DAGGER] [Revoked by Executive Order No. 29 (George E. Pataki), infra.]
[DOUBLE DAGGER] [Revoked by Executive Order No. 5 (Eliot Spitzer), infra.] [Revoked by Executive Order No. 9 (David A. Paterson), infra.] [Revoked by Executive Order No. 2 (Andrew M. Cuomo), infra.]
