New York Consolidated Laws, Arts and Cultural Affairs Law - ACA § 4.01. Legislative findings and declaration of policy

The legislature hereby finds and declares that the Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller empire state plaza is a unique architectural entity and is intensively used by the public for recreation, for conventions of business and governmental groups and for participation in exhibits and exhibitions of the visual and performing arts.

It is hereby declared a policy of the state that there be created in the executive department the empire state plaza art commission, with a legislative mandate regarding the works of art of great value to the people of the state of New York which are located in the empire state plaza.