WHEREAS, it is imperative that this State reduce the size of its government, decrease the inordinately high price its taxpayers have been required to bear for services delivered by government entities, and improve the quality of those services;

WHEREAS, by greater reliance on the private sector these crucial goals can be furthered;

WHEREAS, to improve the quality of government services and lower their cost requires identifying those services that can be more efficiently delivered by the private sector and those assets that can be more productively owned by the private sector;

WHEREAS, a comprehensive study should be conducted to analyze the feasibility of the privatization of selected government assets and services; and

WHEREAS, certain private citizens of the State have informed me of their willingness to undertake without compensation such a comprehensive study, and their expertise, judgment, and professional and business acumen are invaluable assets;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE E. PATAKI, Governor of the State of New York, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and Laws of the State of New York, do hereby establish the New York State Advisory Commission on Privatization (the "Commission") and the New York State Research Council on Privatization (the "Council"). The commission shall consist of the Secretary to the Governor, the Counsel to the Governor, the Commissioner of the Department of Economic Development, the Director of State Operations, the Director of Regulatory Reform or their respective designees, and such other members as the Governor shall appoint. The Governor shall appoint a chairperson from among the members of the Commission. The Council shall consist of Ronald Lauder, who shall be its chairperson, and such other members as shall be appointed by the Governor.

1. The Council shall:

a. review existing feasibility studies regarding privatization and any reports relating to privatization efforts and experiences of national, state and local governments;

b. analyze existing legal, regulatory and contractual impediments to privatization;

c. evaluate the advantages and disadvantages associated with the various modes of privatization and conduct feasibility studies, including cost-benefit analyses, to identify those assets and services that if privatized would result in cost savings and improvements in the quality of services;

d. prepare and submit to the Commission for its evaluation comprehensive reports on the results of its research and presenting all practicable privatization options; and

e. undertake such additional analyses and reviews, and prepare reports thereon, as the Commission shall direct consistent with the purposes of this Order.

2. The Commission shall evaluate the reports submitted to it by the Council and make recommendations to the Governor concerning those assets and services that would more effectively and efficiently be owned or delivered by the private sector.

3. The Commission and the Council are hereby authorized to call upon any agency, department, office, division or public authority of this State to supply it with such data and other information, personnel and assistance as they deem necessary to discharge their responsibilities under this Order. Each agency, department, office, division and public authority of this State is hereby required to cooperate with the Commission and the Council and to furnish to the Commission and the Council such information, personnel and assistance as is necessary to accomplish the purposes of this Order. The Attorney General, or his designee, shall act as legal counsel to the commission and the Council.