Governor Paterson Plans Wide Review of Regulations

According to published reports Governor David A. Paterson’s administration is considering a reorganization that would give him more direct control over the regulatory process. The plan, which is still being drafted, would give the governor’s top aides a chance to review state regulations created in the past five years and, if they chose to, order agencies to revoke or alter them.

A key feature of the plan, as currently drafted, would be a new executive review committee that would have the authority to revoke regulations deemed controversial. The committee would have authority over all agencies, but it would begin with a review of regulations enforced by the Department of Environmental Conservation, Health, Agriculture and Markets, Labor, State, Taxation and Finance, the Workers Compensation Board and the State Liquor Authority. The committee would include the governor’s top deputy, Charles J. O’Byrne, the budget director, the director of state operations, the counsel to the governor and the director of the Governor’s Office of Regulatory Reform.

It’s welcome news that Governor Paterson is exploring what can be done to improve the regulatory environment for businesses in the state. We’re especially pleased that the State Liquor Authority was listed as one of the agencies subject to review in the draft proposal. This is another indication that our view that the SLA and the rules governing our industry need a major overhaul is shared by key state officials. We will have to wait for the final policy on regulatory review to be issued, but the fact that the Liquor Authority continues to receive scrutiny is encouraging to our work to reform the Alcoholic Beverage Control law and its administration.