+ − Contact Information
Phone: (518) 455-5467
Office Address:
LOB 441
Albany, NY 12248
+ − Biography
Charles D. Lavine represents the 13th Assembly District, which consists of portions of northeastern Nassau County. As the Assembly Chair of the Administrative Regulations Review Commission, Assemblyman Lavine has taken a leading role in advocating for small business owners. As President of the New York Chapter of the National Association of Jewish Legislators, he is a strong voice for the Jewish community and for the State of Israel. Lavine also serves as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Estates, Powers and Trusts.
Assemblyman Lavine is dedicated to fighting for legislation that will make New York an even better place to live. His passion for a more transparent and efficient government has motivated him to author legislation that will strip corrupt public officials of their pensions. The Assemblyman is also a proponent of campaign finance reform and ethics legislation.
To keep our families safe, Lavine has sponsored legislation that will increase penalties for those who use high capacity magazines as well as legislation that will help to halt the trafficking of illegal guns into New York. Troubled by the number of veterans living in poverty and with mental health disorders, Lavine authored legislation to identify veterans in need and coordinate the necessary services to improve the quality of their lives. Lavine was also a proud sponsor of the legislation that eventually brought Marriage Equality into New York State’s law.
As president of the New York Chapter of the National Association of Jewish Legislators, Lavine has been a steadfast advocate for a strong alliance between the United States and Israel. Lavine has hosted Israeli government officials and has marched in the Salute to Israel Parade, in commemoration of Israel’s Independence Day.
Since his appointment as chairman of the Assembly’s Administration Regulations Review Commission, Assemblyman Lavine has championed reforms and legislation to streamline the regulatory protocols of New York State governmental agencies and authorities, advocating on behalf of small businesses to increase governmental efficiency.
Lavine grew up in Marinette, Wisconsin, Menominee, Michigan, Manistique, Michigan and Green Bay, Wisconsin. He graduated from Marinette High School in 1965 and from the University of Wisconsin in 1969 with a B.A. in English Literature. While at Wisconsin, he was director of the Robert Theobald lectures presented by the University’s Symposium Committee. He also served as a chairman of the fact-finding commission of United Students for Action, a civil rights advocacy group that recommended that the University divest its interests in companies that dealt with South Africa, which then practiced apartheid. The University subsequently ended its investments in those corporations.
Lavine graduated from New York Law School with a Juris Doctorate in 1972. He had been Editor-in-Chief of the Moot Court Board, Chairman of the Student Curriculum Committee, Student Bar Association representative and recipient of the Student Bar Association’s Exceptional Service Award. In connection with his service on the Moot Court Board, Mr. Lavine was the editor of a publication titled Student Guide to Appellate Advocacy.
Between 1972 and 1976, Lavine was employed as a staff attorney for the Legal Aid Society of the City of New York. He was selected as one of the original members of the pioneering Continuity Unit, which provided each client with a single attorney throughout the processing of the entire case. Prior to that time, clients were represented by a succession of attorneys, with no single lawyer having full responsibility for the case. That innovative approach would eventually be adopted as the model for the manner in which Public Defender Organizations currently provide legal services.
Leaving the Legal Aid Society in 1976, Lavine practiced law with offices in Queens County and lower Manhattan, specializing in the defense of complex criminal litigation. He played a role in many of the cases that captured headlines over the course of his legal career. Since his Assembly election, he no longer accepts cases and serves as a full-time legislator.
Lavine has resided in Glen Cove since 1980. His demanding work schedule never kept him from contributing to the betterment of his community. In the mid-1980s, he served as counsel for the Glen Cove Community Development Agency and the Industrial Development Agency. As CDA attorney, Lavine was lead counsel in the City’s successful defense of litigation brought to prohibit Glen Cove from developing a movie theater in its downtown.
In 2000, Lavine was appointed to the Glen Cove Planning Board. In May of 2003, he was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Glen Cove City Council, a position to which he was subsequently elected in November.
In 2004, Lavine was elected to the New York State Assembly. He currently serves on six Assembly committees: Codes, Health, Higher Education, Insurance, Judiciary and Social Services. He is Chairman of the Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Estates, Powers and Trusts.
Chuck is married to Ronnie, a retired public school educator and active Planned Parenthood of Nassau County volunteer. Their children Gregory and Andria attended Glen Cove public schools.
