Government Law Center at Albany Law School

Government Law Center at Albany Law School Non-partisan legal research and analysis that helps governments better serve their communities.

04/03/2025

National security scholar and former FBI Special Agent Asha Rangappa is coming to Albany in two weeks! Join us for an enlightening discussion about how people become complicit in illegal or unethical behavior and how leaders can build a culture of truth-telling and accountability.

đź“… Wednesday, April 16, 2025
đź•— 7:00 P.M. to 8:15 P.M.
đź“Ť ETEC, University at Albany
RSVP: Visit https://alumni.albanylaw.edu/corruption

The program is sponsored by the Museum of Political Corruption, Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy at the University at Albany, and Government Law Center at Albany Law School.

Government Law Center Director Patrick Wildes '16 recently joined Nate Crespo, creator and host of the Lawyers in the Ma...
03/10/2025

Government Law Center Director Patrick Wildes '16 recently joined Nate Crespo, creator and host of the Lawyers in the Making Podcast, for a wide-ranging discussion about his career journey, the importance of mental health in the legal industry, and the GLC's efforts to support Albany Law School students on their own unique journeys.

Visit https://bit.ly/3DrCPeQ or scan the QR code to listen to the interview.

More than 200 people have already registered to attend the next Warren M. Anderson Legislative Series program! Join us o...
03/07/2025

More than 200 people have already registered to attend the next Warren M. Anderson Legislative Series program! Join us on March 27 at noon for New York State's Climate Agenda: Progress and Paths Forward.

Cinnamon P. Carlarne, President and Dean at Albany Law School, will facilitate a panel discussion featuring:
• Rory M. Christian — Chair and CEO of the New York State Public Service Commission, New York State Department of Public Service
• Jonathan Binder, Esq. — Deputy Commissioner for Climate Change, Air Resources, and Energy at the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
• Caitlin Stephen, Esq. — Bureau Chief for Climate, Air, and Energy in the Office of General Counsel at the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
• Michael Gerrard, Esq. — Founder and Faculty Director of the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law and Andrew Sabin Professor of Professional Practice at Columbia Law School

The series is free of charge and open to the public, but registration is required: https://bit.ly/andersonseries2025

The Zoom webinar link will be shared after registration. Continuing legal education (CLE) professional practice credit is available for attorneys based in New York State who attend the full program.

An ongoing strike of corrections officers across New York State has prompted conversations about major legal and policy ...
03/06/2025

An ongoing strike of corrections officers across New York State has prompted conversations about major legal and policy issues impacting the safety and wellbeing of incarcerated individuals and employees inside the state's prisons.

The GLC's latest explainer by Albany Law School student Genevieve Bombard ’27 provides background information on the laws and policies at the core of discussions around the state's carceral system, namely the Humane Alternatives to Long-Term Solitary Confinement (HALT) Act.

Read more: https://www.albanylaw.edu/government-law-center/explaining-the-halt-act

The Government Law Center provides nonpartisan legal research and analysis on pressing issues facing state and local government and informs the public about major legal and policy issues facing policymakers and elected officials. Our role is to explain, not to advocate for a particular position or course of action.

Every week, Government Lawyer in Residence Bennett Liebman prepares a digest of the latest theater news in New York’s Ca...
02/12/2025

Every week, Government Lawyer in Residence Bennett Liebman prepares a digest of the latest theater news in New York’s Capital Region and beyond.

Here are some highlights:
• Capital Region must-see performances: “Once On This Island,” by Black Theatre Troupe of Upstate NY; “Hamlet” at Home Made Theatre in Saratoga; and more
• Broadway offerings reflect generations-old traditions of Black performers and theater professionals working in New York theater
• Broadway League releases audience demographic report for 2023-2024
• Nine finalists announced for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, the most prestigious English-language theater prize for women and non-binary writers
• Trump administration disbands Committee on the Arts and the Humanities amid a flurry of executive orders touching on art, culture, and history

Access the full digest at https://bit.ly/4jOgU1E or scan the QR code.

Every week, Government Lawyer in Residence Bennett Liebman prepares a digest of the latest gambling news in New York Sta...
02/12/2025

Every week, Government Lawyer in Residence Bennett Liebman prepares a digest of the latest gambling news in New York State and beyond.

Here are some highlights:

• Proposal to raise New York’s minimum gambling age up for discussion
• State Sen. Joseph Addabbo Jr. introduces online casino bill, with a notable change addressing sweepstakes casinos
• State comptroller's office to audit Western Regional OTB
• Commodity Futures Trading Commission to probe Super Bowl events contracts on Crypto.com and Kalshi to determine whether the contracts focused on sports constitute “gaming” within the meaning of Commodities Exchange Act

Access the full digest at https://governmentlawcenter.omeka.net/items/show/641 or scan the QR code.

Join the Government Law Center and Government Law Review at Albany Law School for "High Stakes: The Legal, Ethical, and ...
02/10/2025

Join the Government Law Center and Government Law Review at Albany Law School for "High Stakes: The Legal, Ethical, and Policy Implications of Cannabis," an enlightening symposium examining cannabis law, policy, and governance.

Friday, February 28, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Dean Alexander Moot Court Room (DAMC), Albany Law School
CLE credit available for attorneys who attend in person.

Register at https://alumni.albanylaw.edu/cannabislaw2025 or scan the QR code.

Check out the schedule and guest speakers in the first comment! ⬇️

Yesterday, the Government Law Center hosted the first Warren M. Anderson Legislative Series program of the year. The pro...
02/07/2025

Yesterday, the Government Law Center hosted the first Warren M. Anderson Legislative Series program of the year. The program explored pressing issues facing the P-12 education community and lawmakers in New York State, including the state and future of the Foundation Aid formula for funding schools in New York, the prospect of universal free school meals across the state, and the Governor's proposed plan to restrict smart phone use in schools. The recording will be available on Albany Law School's YouTube channel.

Thank you to our distinguished panelists and moderator:

• Robert Megna – President, Rockefeller Institute of Government

• Marina Marcou-O’Malley – Co-Executive Director, Alliance for Quality Education of New York

• Sean Giambattista – Director of State Aid, New York State Education Department

• Alithia Rodriguez-Rolon – Legislative Director, NYSUT - A Union of Professionals

Moderator Kyle McCauley Belokopitsky, Esq. ’05 – Executive Director, New York State PTA – expertly guided the conversation through complex topics.

Thank you to the 160+ individuals who attended the program and shared thoughtful questions and reflections.

Finally, the Government Law Center expresses gratitude to the series sponsor, who made a generous contribution in the memory of Sharon P. O'Conor, Esq., Albany Law School Class of 1979.

Meet the Panelists: Alithia Rodriguez-Rolon is Legislative Director for the New York State United Teachers (NYSUT). As a...
02/05/2025

Meet the Panelists: Alithia Rodriguez-Rolon is Legislative Director for the New York State United Teachers (NYSUT). As a proud graduate of the New York City public education system, she advocates on behalf of the needs of public higher education, educators and students.

Prior to joining NYSUT, Ms. Rodriguez-Rolon spent many years as a government affairs expert working on health care and education issues for the New York State Department of Health, the New York State Nurses Association and the New York City Council of School Supervisors and Administrators.

There's still time to register for the Warren M. Anderson Legislative Series program on Current Issues in New York State Education, which will take place on February 6 via Zoom at 12 p.m. Register at https://alumni.albanylaw.edu/Anderson2025

Meet the Panelists: Robert Megna is President of the Rockefeller Institute of Government (SUNY). He previously served as...
02/04/2025

Meet the Panelists: Robert Megna is President of the Rockefeller Institute of Government (SUNY). He previously served as senior vice chancellor and chief operating officer of SUNY System Administration after working at Stony Brook University, where he served as senior vice president for finance and administration.

Prior to joining Stony Brook, he served as executive director of the New York State Thruway Authority and New York State Canal Corporation. Mr. Megna previously served as budget director for the New York State Division of the Budget, during which time the state achieved its highest financial rating in 40 years from three major credit rating agencies and passed four on-time budgets for the first time since the 1970s.

Mr. Megna has also served as commissioner for the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, director of the revenue and economics unit at DOB, assistant commissioner of the office of tax policy at the Virginia Department of Taxation, director of tax studies at the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, and deputy director of fiscal studies on the Assembly Ways and Means Committee.

There's still time to register for the Warren M. Anderson Legislative Series program on Current Issues in New York State Education, which will take place on February 6 via Zoom at 12 p.m. Register at https://alumni.albanylaw.edu/Anderson2025

Meet the Panelists: Marina Marcou-O'Malley is the Co-Executive Director of the Alliance for Quality Education. Since she...
02/04/2025

Meet the Panelists: Marina Marcou-O'Malley is the Co-Executive Director of the Alliance for Quality Education.

Since she joined AQE in late May 2008, Ms. Marcou-O’Malley dove into education and early education policy, specifically as it affects Black, brown and low-income children and families. Her expertise is in fiscal analysis of state budgets and education policy, as well as community organizing of directly impacted people. A deeply held value is that public education leads to liberation, a value that paves the way for building campaigns and working with people to achieve that world. Through the years, Ms. Marcou-O’Malley has supported community organizers across New York State and how to strategically effect political education and change, wrote reports on education equity and early education, and has spoken on a number of issues affecting children and families. Ms. Marcou-O’Malley holds a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education and a Master’s degree in Communication. She is also a mom of two teenagers that keep her on her toes.

There's still time to register for the Warren M. Anderson Legislative Series program on Current Issues in New York State Education, which will take place on February 6 via Zoom at 12 p.m. Register at https://alumni.albanylaw.edu/Anderson2025

Meet the Panelists: Sean Giambattista is Director of State Aid at the New York State Education Department, where he lead...
02/04/2025

Meet the Panelists: Sean Giambattista is Director of State Aid at the New York State Education Department, where he leads the Fiscal Analysis and Research Unit and State Aid Unit. Mr. Giambattista has been at the department for ten years in this and related capacities.

Prior to joining the state Education Department, Mr. Giambattista worked for the Ways and Means committee in the New York State Assembly. A graduate of New York public Schools, Mr. Giambattista earned his undergraduate degree in economics and went on to complete a Master’s of Public Affairs and Juris Doctorate at Indiana University.

There's still time to register for the Warren M. Anderson Legislative Series program on Current Issues in New York State Education, which will take place on February 6 via Zoom at 12 p.m. Register at https://alumni.albanylaw.edu/Anderson2025

Meet the Panelists: Kyle Belokopitsky, Esq. '05 is Executive Director at the New York State Congress of Parents and Teac...
02/04/2025

Meet the Panelists: Kyle Belokopitsky, Esq. '05 is Executive Director at the New York State Congress of Parents and Teachers (NYS PTA). Ms. Belokopitsky specializes in education, law and policy after years of working in both the New York State Senate and Assembly.

Before her service to the NYS PTA, she represented the New York State United Teachers (NYSUT), the NYS Council of School Superintendents, and the NYS Catholic Conference. Since 2006, she has taught Law and Criminal Justice at Hudson Valley Community College, Schenectady County Community College and The College of St Rose Graduate School of Education.

Ms. Belokopitsky was named to the State's Reimagine Education Advisory Council, and served as legal staff to Chief Judge Judith Kaye's New York State Commission to Promote Confidence in Judicial Elections, was Research Assistant for Judge James P. King, Law Clerk to Honorable Thomas W. Keegan, Law Clerk at the Rensselaer County District Attorney's Office, and at McNamee, Lochner, Titus and Williams, P.C. She has appeared in all levels of NYS courts, including assisting in complex litigation before our highest court, the NYS Court of Appeals.

There's still time to register for the Warren M. Anderson Legislative Series program on Current Issues in New York State Education, which will take place on February 6 via Zoom at 12 p.m. Register at https://alumni.albanylaw.edu/Anderson2025

As we enter the second month of the legislative session in Albany, the Government Law Center at Albany Law School is del...
01/29/2025

As we enter the second month of the legislative session in Albany, the Government Law Center at Albany Law School is delighted to announce the first program of the 2025 Warren M. Anderson Legislative Series, which focuses on major legal and policy issues facing New York State government.

The virtual program, Current Issues in New York State Education, will take place via Zoom on Thursday, February 6, from noon to 1 p.m.

The panel will highlight critical issues facing the P-12 education community and lawmakers, including the Foundation Aid formula, the use of cell phones in schools, and the prospect of universal free school meals.

Featured speakers include:
• Kyle McCauley Belokopitsky, Esq. ’05 – Executive Director, New York State PTA
• Robert Megna – President, Rockefeller Institute of Government
• Marina Marcou-O’Malley – Co-Executive Director, Alliance for Quality Education of New York
• Sean Giambattista – Director of State Aid, New York State Education Department
• Alithia Rodriguez-Rolon – Legislative Director, NYSUT - A Union of Professionals

This free program is open to the public and includes CLE credit for attorneys. Register here: https://alumni.albanylaw.edu/Anderson2025

Government Lawyer in Residence Bennett Liebman has a new article in the Albany Law Review: Whose Board or Commission Is ...
01/22/2025

Government Lawyer in Residence Bennett Liebman has a new article in the Albany Law Review: Whose Board or Commission Is This Anyway?

Article V, Section 4 of the state Constitution requires that department heads, commission members, and board members are to be nominated by the governor and confirmed by the state Senate. While this provision should be easy to apply, in practice, Liebman explains, major questions arise: What offices are subject to this provision? Whose board or commission is subject to this requirement?

Liebman's article analyzes state constitutional history and court challenges to the historical implementation of Article V, Section 4, to identify a rational approach to implementing this provision.

Read more at https://www.albanylawreview.org/article/127780-whose-board-or-commission-is-this-anyway

Last week, Government Law Center Legal Director Richard Rifkin spoke with The Altamont Enterprise about the town board i...
01/14/2025

Last week, Government Law Center Legal Director Richard Rifkin spoke with The Altamont Enterprise about the town board in Berne, NY, where only two members remain on its town board after the other three resigned in August 2024. Without a quorum, the town board is unable to pass motions involving important government operations.

"Rifkin told The Enterprise that he was not aware of any town in New York state that’s faced this circumstance before, and was unsure what the protocol would be. All he could offer was his speculation, he said.

"'Your choice seems to be either the government totally shutting down, or, as a practical matter, continuing to operate in the way it has operated in the past,' he said."

"That would mean maintaining all of the 'fundamentals,' Rifkin said, naming payroll as 'the kind of thing that just has to be done if the government is going to function rather than shut down completely.'"

New York State Public Officers Law provides the Governor with the ability to call a special election or make an appointment to the board that would allow it to conduct normal business again.

Read more: https://altamontenterprise.com/01102025/berne-government-mystery-new-year-without-town-board

Every week, Government Lawyer in Residence Bennett Liebman prepares a digest of the latest theater news in New York’s Ca...
12/16/2024

Every week, Government Lawyer in Residence Bennett Liebman prepares a digest of the latest theater news in New York’s Capital Region and beyond.

Here are some highlights:
• 2024: A year of cross-agency collaborations involving the arts in federal government
• US Supreme Court declines to hear Broadway producer Garth Drabinsky’s suit against the Actors’ Equity Association over “do not work” designation
• Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson to make Broadway debut
• Local theater reviews: “On Golden Pond” at Albany Civic Theater; “MJ” at Proctors Theater; “A Christmas Story” at Cohoes Music Hall

Access the full digest at https://governmentlawcenter.omeka.net/items/show/639 or scan the QR code.

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National security scholar and former FBI Special Agent Asha Rangappa is coming to Albany in two weeks! Join us for an enlightening discussion about how people become complicit in illegal or unethical behavior and how leaders can build a culture of truth-telling and accountability. đź“… Wednesday, April 16, 2025 đź•— 7:00 P.M. to 8:15 P.M. đź“Ť ETEC, University at Albany RSVP: Visit https://alumni.albanylaw.edu/corruption The program is sponsored by the Museum of Political Corruption, Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy at the University at Albany, and Government Law Center at Albany Law School.

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