STEP 9. Legislative Hearings and Debates.

1. Public Hearings.

   A legislative committee may hold public hearings on bills before it, although such hearings are not required. Transcripts of hearings are generally difficult to obtain. A copy of a hearing is available only if the committee tapes or transcribes it, and sends this copy to the Legislative Library, the State Library, or the State Archives.

   • 1900-1994 (as of 5/97). Both the State Archives and the Library have some Assembly and Senate public hearings. Search these hearings as separates in the Library's online catalog. The Legislature is not legally required to send their documents and records to the Archives and the Library, so this collection is not complete. From about 1980 the Legislative Library has been receiving the public hearings and microfilming them.

     Microfiche Collection: 1980-1989 (as of 5/97). Hearings are filed by date in the Microform Area, MA, 348.74701/ qN532, 91-27872. The Legislative Library intends to film the hearings in five year batches, and will probably provide a copy to the State Library.

   • Index by date. RR, 348.74701/ qN532, 91-27872.

2. Floor Debates.

   These collections of debates are untranscribed tapes of the session. Order debates by bill number and date passed.

   • Assembly debates.
     • 1973-present. Order from:

       NYS Assembly Public Information Office (518)455-4218
       Room 202, Legislative Office Building
       Albany, NY 12248

   • Senate debates.

     • Current session. Order from:

       NYS Senate Communications Office (518)455-2245
       Room 416, State Capitol
       Albany, NY 12224

     • 1960 to year prior to the current session. Order from:

       NYS Senate Microfim and Records Room (518)455-3200
       Room 500GA, State Capital
       Albany, NY 12224

   • 1974-1976 debates are held by the State Archives .

Last modified on January 9, 2007
URL: http://www.nysl.nysed.gov/leghis9.htm