Silver Announces Formation of Assembly Subcommittees

Move Continues Internal Reform Efforts Initiated In January

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver today announced the strengthening of an Assembly subcommittee structure to provide individual members a greater role in researching, analyzing and debating various legislative issues. The move is another in a series of internal house rules changes that have sought to increase the role and impact of rank-and-file members.

"By establishing a subcommittee structure, the Assembly is seeking to promote more deliberative and long-term discussions and solutions to challenges that can be complicated and far-reaching," said Silver, who explained that each subcommittee will operate under an existing standing committee.

According to Silver, subcommittee members will be appointed by the chair of the overseeing standing committee and there will be minority participation on each subcommittee.

In addition to making the subcommittee appointments, Silver renewed his commitment to televised legislative sessions.

"An Assembly working group has been making real progress on the issue of statewide televised legislative sessions, and it is my hope that these broadcasts will soon become a reality," said Silver, who noted that the Assembly's legislative proceedings are carried live, gavel-to-gavel, on the internet (www.assembly.state.ny.us).

Silver also noted that in the coming months, the Assembly will be moving forward with its plans to conduct annual budget implementation hearings to ensure a consistent process for a public review of state agency compliance with the enacted budget.

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Note: Below is a list of each Assembly subcommittee, its overseeing standing committee and the appointed subcommittee chair.

ASSEMBLY SUBCOMMITTEES

AGING

• Subcommittee on Outreach and Oversight of Senior Citizen Programs
  William F. Boyland, Chair

ALCOHOLISM AND DRUG ABUSE

• Subcommittee on Effective Treatment
  Carmen Arroyo, Chair

BANKS

• Subcommittee on Banking in Underserved Communities
  Jose R. Peralta, Chair
• Subcommittee on Regulated Mortgage Lenders
  Michael A. Benjamin, Chair

• Subcommittee on Foster Care
  Michele Titus, Chair

• Subcommittee on Criminal Trial Procedures
  Daniel O'Donnell, Chair

• Subcommittee on Child Product Safety
  Ginny Fields, Chair

• Subcommittee on Transitional Services
  Diane Gordon, Chair

• Subcommittee on Export Trade
  Francine DelMonte, Chair

• Subcommittee on Students with Special Needs
  John W. Lavelle, Chair

• Subcommittee on Election Day Operations and Voter Disenfranchisement
  Michael N. Gianaris, Chair

• Subcommittee on Renewable Energy
  Ryan S. Karben, Chair

• Subcommittee on Oversight of the Department of Environmental Conservation
  Adam T. Bradley, Chair
• Subcommittee on Shoreline Protection
  Steven Cymbrowitz, Chair

• Subcommittee on Oversight of Minority Women Business Enterprise
  Crystal D. Peoples, Chair

• Subcommittee on Women's Health
  Aileen M. Gunther, Chair

• Subcommittee on Tuition Assistance Program
  Michael J. Cusick, Chair

• Subcommittee on Mitchell-Lama
  Jonathan L. Bing, Chair
• Subcommittee on Retention of Homeownership and Stabilization of Affordable Housing
  Annette Robinson, Chair

• Subcommittee on Insurer Investments and Underserved Areas
  Adam Clayton Powell, Chair

• Subcommittee on Trust and Estates
  Frank R. Seddio, Chair

• Subcommittee on Emerging Workforce
  Carl Heastie, Chair

• Subcommittee on Volunteer Emergency Services
  Philip R. Ramos, Chair

• Subcommittee on Women Veterans
  Patricia Eddington, Chair

TASK FORCES

TASK FORCE ON PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Amy Paulin, Chair

TASK FORCE ON STATE-LOCAL RELATIONS
Darrel J. Aubertine, Chair

LEGISLATIVE TASK FORCE ON NEW AMERICANS
Luis M. Diaz, Chair

LEGISLATIVE TASK FORCE ON WOMEN'S ISSUES
Barbara S. Lifton, Chair