New York Laws – What’s New in 2010?
The new year brings with it a variety of law new, and many of those changes will impact the ways New Yorkers live, work and play. From the minimum wage to data privacy, a number of laws have taken effect that will affect New York City residents.
For more information on these and other bills that have become law, please visit our Laws & Rules page. This section provides a list of legislation that has been enacted this session, with links to slip law texts where available (private laws are listed in a separate list).
In addition to the law that is set forth in the Charter, Constitution and statutes of the State of New York, the City of New York has passed its own local legislation, which is contained in the Administrative Code and the City’s rules. These are updated as necessary to reflect changes in the law and to clarify procedures relating to City agencies.
Laws affecting private entities, such as nonprofit legal entities, political parties and religious communities, are listed on a separate page. This section also lists statutes and regulations that the City Council has adopted, as well as federal laws affecting the City.
The City of New York has a long history of using common law to protect public health and safety. Unlike statutory law, which is created by a legislative body and codified in the City’s administrative code, common law is derived from a series of legal precedents established by the courts. This type of law continues to be important to the City today, and it will continue to play a role in its future development.
Common law is a foundation of our legal system, and it will continue to evolve in the future as we address new legal issues and technologies. The City’s administrative code and the rulemaking process provide a framework for making these decisions, and the City’s judicial branch will enforce these laws when they are broken.
The lawmaking process in the United States is unique, and it consists of two chambers: the House of Representatives and the Senate. The way in which a bill becomes a law differs between the two houses, but both involve a similar process of research, discussion, amendment and voting. For more information on how a bill becomes a law in Congress, see the following video: