New York (State). Dept. of Labor.

New York State's official involvement in labor issues began in 1883 when the Bureau of Labor Statistics was created (Chapter 356) to gather information and prepare an annual statistical report on the State's labor force. The State began regulatory activity in labor and industrial affairs in 1886 (Chapter 409) with the establishment of the Office of Factory Inspector (expanded to the Department of Factory Inspection in 1887) to enforce laws regulating the employment of children in factories, and the Board of Mediation and Arbitration, to assist in the settlement of labor disputes.

These three units were combined in 1901 (Chapter 9) to form the Department of Labor, headed by a commissioner. Two new divisions, the Bureau of Mercantile Inspection and the Bureau of Industries and Immigration, were added to the department in 1909.

The independent office of State fire marshal was established in 1911 (Chapter 451) to enforce laws relating to prevention of fires, use of combustibles and explosives, and availability of fire alarms and fire extinguishers. This office also conducted inspections of steam boilers, regulated fire escapes, and investigated causes of fires.

In 1913 (Chapter 145), the Industrial Board, consisting of the commissioner of labor as chair and four gubernatorial appointees, was created within the Department of Labor to issue and interpret rules and regulations known as Industrial Code Rules. These rules established standards for the health and safety of employees. Another 1913 law created an independent Workmen's Compensation Commission to ensure payment of compensation to disabled employees and set up the State Insurance Fund, administered by the commission, to insure employers against liability.

A law of 1915 (Chapter 674) reorganized the Department of Labor, replacing the commissioner of labor with a five-member Industrial Commission appointed by the governor. The commission headed the Department of Labor and assumed responsibilities formerly exercised by the Industrial Board, the Workmen's Compensation Commission, and the State fire marshal, which were abolished. In addition, an Industrial Council composed of ten gubernatorial appointees was created to provide advice to the Industrial Commission.

Another reorganization in 1921 (Chapter 50) replaced the Industrial Commission with a single industrial commissioner and established a three-member Industrial Board to issue, amend, and interpret the Industrial Code Rules and to review and determine claims in workers' compensation cases. This departmental structure was reestablished by law in the 1925-26 reorganization of State government.

Labor legislation of 1935 and 1936, including the Unemployment Insurance Law of 1935 (Chapter 468), providing for payment of benefits to eligible unemployed workers, resulted in additional restructuring. A Division of Unemployment Insurance was established within the department to administer the Unemployment Insurance Law. The department's jurisdiction in workers' compensation matters was extended to cover occupational diseases. Its regulatory powers over industrial homework were expanded to the entire State (formerly its jurisdiction was confined to cities of over 200,000 people).

Several laws of 1937 changed the administrative structure of the department. A newly established Board of Standards and Appeals assumed the functions of the Industrial Board in regard to industrial code matters, and the Industrial Board became concerned exclusively with workers' compensation matters. A Labor Relations Board was established to supervise labor-management relations, and a State Board of Mediation was set up to mediate settlements in labor disputes.

In 1938 the State Insurance Fund was removed from the direct administrative jurisdiction of the industrial commissioner, who continued to serve as an ex officio member of the newly created Board of Commissioners of the State Insurance Fund. An Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board was established in 1944 to hear appeals from claimants or employers dissatisfied with departmental administrative determinations under the unemployment insurance programs mandated by 1935 and subsequent legislation.

In 1945 the Industrial Board was replaced by a ten-member Workmen's Compensation Board, which was renamed the Workers' Compensation Board in 1971. The Board of Standards and Appeals was renamed the Industrial Board of Appeals in 1971.

The department administers certain programs under federal legislation, such as the Job Training Partnership Act of 1983, which provides localities with federal funds for employment training.

From the New York State Archives, Cultural Education Center, Albany, NY. Agency record NYSV86-A373