New York (State). Legislature. Legislative Commission on Science & Technology

During the 1970's and 1980's, there was increased awareness that New York State's infrastructure, consisting of roads, bridges and other public works, were beginning to deteriorate at an alarming rate. State and local government began to examine ways to solve this crisis. On behalf of the New York State Legislature, its Commission on Science and Technology drafted legislation to finance and carry out a comprehensive program of regular maintenance and repair of these public works.

The Legislative Commission on Energy Systems was created by Chapter 460, Laws of 1975. In 1979 (Chapter 50), the Commission was renamed the Legislative Commission on Science and Technology. The Commission consists of ten members, including both Members of the Legislature and private individuals.

The Commission's responsibility is to study technical and scientific developments on our society and to report the Legislature on how these developments might affect the economic life of the state. In many instances, the Commission drafts and promotes remedial legislation on behalf of the Legislature. Activities of the Commission have included examining the effectiveness of science and technology education in New York and studying and promoting ways to repair the state's deteriorating infrastructure.