Combine Two City Archive Advisory Boards into One
Enacted on Oct 26, 2026
Signed into Law
Local Law 2026/077
✦ Plain-Language Summary
This law merges two separate boards that oversee the city's archives and records into a single nine-member advisory board. The combined board will continue to review how NYC manages its historical documents and government records. This streamlines city government operations without changing services to residents.
The story behind this bill
Why it was introduced
DORIS runs two advisory boards on city records: the Archival Review Board and the Archives, Reference and Research Advisory Board. Their jobs largely overlap, and since 2023 they have already been meeting jointly and issuing joint reports. The bill combines them into one board to match this existing practice and save staff time.
At the hearings
Committee on Governmental Operations, State & Federal Legislation · 2026-02-25
The committee heard testimony on Int. 87 alongside an oversight hearing on vacant city property. DORIS supported the bill as a formal version of current joint-meeting practice, while a genealogists' group opposed it over a change to board oversight power.
In support
- Council Member Gale Brewer (sponsor): The two boards already meet jointly and issue joint reports, so combining them is not a major change.
- DORIS Commissioner Pauline Toole: Combining the boards will be efficient and still provide the same guidance and oversight.
In opposition
- Alec Ferretti, Association of Professional Genealogists: The bill lets board members inspect records only with the DORIS commissioner's concurrence, undermining independent oversight.
City agencies: DORIS strongly supported the bill, saying both boards' members also favored combining into one smaller, more efficient board that still provides guidance and oversight.
“DORIS strongly supports the proposed Local Law, as do the members of the two advisory boards.”
“APG strongly opposes Proposal 0087-2026 as it's currently written.”
“APG urges the Council to reject this bill or amend it to preserve independence.”
Show 1 more hearing
Committee on Governmental Operations, State & Federal Legislation · 2026-03-10
The committee voted on an amended version of the bill, Proposed Int. 87-A, which changed the concurrence requirement from the chair generally to the commissioner specifically but kept it in place. The committee approved the bill 6-0 with one abstention.
In support
- Council Member Gale Brewer (sponsor): The boards' overlapping purviews and existing joint meetings mean the merger simply formalizes current practice and saves staff time.
“Combining the two Boards would not constitute a major change.”
“Aye on Intro. 87, no on Intro. 502-B.”
How it turned out
The Council approved the amended bill (Int. 87-A) 49-0 with 1 absent on March 10, 2026, and sent it to the Mayor. The Mayor returned it unsigned on April 10, 2026, but under the City Charter's 30-day rule it became law anyway, taking effect as Local Law No. 77 of 2026.
What changed along the way
- Board size and makeup changed to 9 members: 5 appointed by Mayor, 3 by Speaker, Commissioner as chair (from 5 members under the two prior boards).
- Mayor's appointees must now include a professional archivist, librarian, and historian.
- Member terms set at staggered 1-, 2-, or 3-year initial terms, then 4-year terms, instead of uniform terms.
- Board meeting requirement changed from every 90 days to every 120 days.
- Access to inspect records now requires 'concurrence of the commissioner' rather than 'concurrence of the chair' in the final version.
- Annual report must now go to both the Speaker and the Mayor, not just the Mayor.
What the record doesn’t say
- The record does not explain why the Mayor returned the bill unsigned rather than signing or vetoing it.
- The documents do not show whether the concurrence-of-the-commissioner language, which the Association of Professional Genealogists opposed, was ever reconsidered or debated further before the final committee vote.
- The record does not say why Council Member Morano abstained on the committee vote on Int. 87-A while voting aye on the Council floor.
Sources
- Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 1-29-26
- Committee Report 2/25/26
- Fiscal Impact Statement - City Council
- Proposed Int. No. 87-A - Fiscal Impact Statement - City Council
- Committee Report 3/10/26
- Hearing Transcript 2/25/26
- LDU Letter to City Legislative Affairs
- Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 3-10-26
- Hearing Transcript 3/10/26
Written by AI from official Council records. Votes and status come from the record; quotes are checked word for word against the official hearing transcripts.
Details
- Introduced
- Jan 29, 2026
- Passed Council
- Apr 9, 2026
- Enacted
- Apr 9, 2026
- Body
- Committee on Governmental Operations, State & Federal Legislation
- Type
- Introduction
- Status
- Enacted
Sponsors (8)
Official Description
This bill would consolidate the Archival Review Board and the Archives, Reference, and Research Advisory Board into the Library and Archival Review Advisory Board. The Library and Archival Review Advisory Board would have nine members, five of whom are appointed by the Mayor, three of whom are appointed by the Speaker of the City Council, and the Commissioner of the Department of Records and Information Services serving as chairperson. Initial appointments would be for one-year, two-year, or three-year terms, with each subsequent appointment being for four-year terms to create a staggered structure and prevent the whole Board from being vacant at the same time. The members of the Library and Archival Review Advisory Board would complete the same functions previously assigned to the Archival Review Board and the Archives, Reference, and Research Advisory Board. These functions include issuing a report on the development of municipal archives, reference and research services in the city, and archival processing of city papers.