Information for this list was obtained from the New York State Legislative Retrieval System (LRS):
2009 CHAPTER LIST AS OF April 10, 2009 – Listed by Chapter Law Number, Highest number listed at top.
NOTE: Provisions regarding Rockefeller drug reform are included as Part AAA of Chapter 56A.
The U.S. Justice Department moved on Wednesday April 1 to drop all charges in the case against former Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska. In a federal court on Wednesday Justice Department lawyers explained that in addition to earlier disclosures they discovered further evidence of misconduct that raised questions about the way the entire case was handled.
Attorney General Eric Holder Jr. issued a statement (see link below) explaining the Department of Justice position and said that he would not seek a new trial.
Statement of Attorney Gereral Eric Holder Jr. Regarding Former Alaska Senator Ted Stevens
New York Governor David Paterson, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, and Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith announced an agreement of Friday March 27 that would effectively end the harshest provisions of the New York Rockefeller Laws The Agreement ends mandatory jail for first-time and non-felony offenders. It also gives judges total authority to send non-violent addicts to treatment instead of jail.
The new drug reform agreement is included in New York budget bill A156 as Part AAA beginning on page 113. To see Part AAA in Microsoft Word format click on the link below to the information provided by William Halsted of the New York Legislative Retrieval System.
I was going to post something about the comparative funding levels between the House and Senate versions of the stimulus legislation, but have just learned that ProPublica has already done so on their blog. Congratulations to ProPublica for a really good posting.
Here is the link. http://www.propublica.org/special/the-stimulus-bills-house-vs.-senate
This posting links to a summary of the highlights of proposed stimulus legislation. including the Nelson-Collins Amendment and other floor amendments as of February 6, 2009. It is not a complete listing of all programs and spending included in the proposed legislation, but it provides a good overview for those who need access to this information now.To see this document click on the link below. The Nelson-Collins Amendment as of now now (morning of 2-9-2009) appears to be the working Senate version of the proposed economic stimulus legislation.
FROM: News from the [New York] State Archives, Region 1, No. 1-2/2009.
Preserving the American Historical Record Act (PAHR): The Act will authorize grants to support the essential evidence of American government and society held by state and local governments, historical societies, and libraries.
Status: On May 15, 2008, the Preserving the American Historical Record Act (H>R> 6056) was introduced in the 110th Congress. Original co-sponsors were Representatives Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) and Chris Cannon (R-UT). This legislation would provide authorization for the Preserving the American Historical Record program to preserve essential documents and archival records held in state and local governments and historical institutions….
A Report of the New York State Commission on Sentencing Reform, dated January 30, 2009 and released on February 3, 2009.
The Report, Future of Sentencing in New York State, calls for reforms to New York Stae drug laws; determinate sentencing, graduated and sanctions for parole violators are among the other recommendations offered.It provides the Governor, Legislature and Judiciary with several different options for historic reform.The State Commission on Sentencing Reform is a bi-partisan panel that has spent nearly two years studying New York States sentencing statutes before releasing this Report
Also see the Press Release announcing release of thr Report and New York State Executive Order Number 10 (March 5, 2007) under which the Commission was created:
On December 22, 2008 we posted a list of House committee assignments preferred by many freshman in the 111th congress.
Although we have heard nothing more about House commitee assignments, we have heard from the Senate. Senate Majority Harry Reid has announced a partial list of the committee assignments he anticipates members of the Democratic Caucus will hold during the 111th Congress. As required by Senate rules, Senator Reid will meet with the Republican Leader to finalize the make-up of each Committee. For additional information including the anticipated committee assignment click on the link below
Partial List of Democratic Senate Committee Assignments Proposed for the 111th Congress
See the Proposed Report of the Special Investigation Committee of the Illinois House of Representatives regarding the possible impeachment of Governor Rod R. Blagojevich.
An update to the Brennan Center reports issued in 2004 and 2006
BY: Andrew Stengel, Lawrence Worden, and Laura Seago
From the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law website at
Criminal Law Library Blog