[1]
Editor's Note: See also Ch. 5, Administrative Code, Art. I.
This local law and all amendments hereto shall constitute the form of government for the County of Rockland and shall be known and cited as the "Rockland County Charter Law." Among the purposes of this law are the providing of county services and facilities with the highest degree of efficiency and economy, the securing of all possible county home rule, the separating of county executive and legislative functions and securing the economic and environmental health of the county.
The municipal corporation now known as "the County of Rockland" shall continue to be a municipal corporation under the same name and with the same boundaries and shall have and exercise all of the rights, privileges, functions and powers and discharge such duties as are imposed or conferred on it by this law or an Administrative Code[1] or by applicable law.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 5, Administrative Code.
Within the limits prescribed in Article 4 of the Municipal Home Rule Law, wherever and whenever any state law, general, special or local in effect, is inconsistent with this law or an Administrative Code, such law shall be deemed to the extent of such inconsistency to be superseded by this law insofar as the County of Rockland and its government are affected.
Except to the extent inconsistent with this law or an Administrative Code, all existing laws, acts and resolutions heretofore adopted by the Legislature of the County of Rockland shall continue in force until amended, superseded or repealed as provided herein; provided, however, that Local Law Number Two of nineteen hundred and seventy-two and Local Law Number Eight of nineteen hundred seventy-four are hereby specifically repealed in their entirety.
In the event of any reapportionment of the Legislature by local law, general or special state law, court decision or order or otherwise, the County Legislature shall be the body provided for by such reapportionment, and all reference in this County Charter Law to the Legislature shall be deemed to be to such reapportioned Legislature.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 5, Administrative Code, § 5-7.
Whenever used in this law or any Administrative Code, local law, legalizing acts or resolutions unless otherwise expressly stated or required by subject matter or context:
a. 
"Act" shall mean a local law or a resolution heretofore or hereafter adopted by the Board of Supervisors or the County Legislature of the county.
b. 
"Administrative Code" or "code" shall mean any Administrative Code adopted by and for the county and all amendments thereto.
c. 
"Board" shall mean a body of persons appointed in the manner herein provided for purposes of studying and advising on matters of county interest.
d. 
"Committee" shall mean a body of persons appointed in the manner herein provided or pursuant to authority herein provided for the purpose of investigating, studying or reporting on matters of interest to the county.
e. 
"County" shall mean the County of Rockland.
f. 
"County Charter Law" shall mean this law and all amendments hereto.
g. 
"Department" shall mean each of those units of the Executive Branch of the county government provided for in this law.
h. 
"Deputy" shall mean an officer of the county authorized to act generally for and in place of his or her principal.
[Amended 7-1-2014 by L.L. No. 4-2014[1]]
[1]
Editor’s Note: This local law was approved by the County Legislature 8-7-2014 over the veto of the County Executive and was approved at referendum 11-4-2014.
i. 
"Division" shall mean a unit within a department as otherwise described in this law or the Administrative Code.
j. 
"Executive Branch" shall mean the County Executive and those units of the county government under his or her jurisdiction.
[Amended 7-1-2014 by L.L. No. 4-2014[2]]
[2]
Editor’s Note: This local law was approved by the County Legislature 8-7-2014 over the veto of the County Executive and was approved at referendum 11-4-2014.
k. 
"Local law" shall mean a law adopted pursuant to this law in accordance with the power granted by the Constitution of the State of New York, the Municipal Home Rule Law or any other act of the State Legislature or provision of this County Charter Law.
l. 
"Officer" shall mean a person in the county government who has authority to exercise any county powers either in making, executing or administering laws of the county or laws of the state applicable thereto.
m. 
"Resolution" shall mean a legislative act other than a local law adopted pursuant to the provision of this County Charter Law.
n. 
"Unit" shall mean any part of the county government, including officers thereof.