State, Department of
skip breadcrumbsAgency Web Site: https://www.dos.ny.gov/
Mission
Established in 1788, the Department of State (DOS) is the State’s oldest agency. Historically serving as the State’s general recording officer and custodian of the State’s “Great Seal”, the Department’s mission encompasses a broad range of activities that coordinate programs with, and provide services to, local governments, individuals, and businesses. The Department supports public safety through the administration of building and energy code programs; administers programs for community development and local government service activities; supports businesses through various licensing and registration activities; and assists new Americans through community-based support centers.
Organization and Staffing
The Department is headed by the Secretary of State, who is appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.
Budget Highlights
The FY 2025 Executive Budget recommends $683.2 million for the Department, an increase of $102.3 million from the adjusted FY 2024 Budget.
The Executive Budget recommends a workforce of 602 FTEs for the Department, a net decrease of 20 FTE's from FY 2024. This reflects a decrease of 50 FTEs for the transfer of the Office of Renewable Energy Siting to the Department of Public Service and an increase of 30 FTEs to support the new Office of Faith and Non-Profit Development Services and other functions and responsibilities added to the Department in 2023.
Major budget actions include:
- $200 million in capital funding for another round of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) and a third round of NY Forward
- $44.2 million in continued funding to support the responsibilities and activities of Office for New Americans, which include providing immigrants arriving to NYS with free legal services, mental health support, workforce development, and English language learning, including a $1.2 million for ONA Opportunity Centers - ESOL, which combine English language training with workforce development skills.
- $5 million for the new Office of Faith and Non-Profit Development Services -- $1.5 million to staff and equip the office and $3.5 million for local assistance grants.
- $15 million for the New York State Commission on African American History. This includes $5 million for a local assistance grant program and $10 million for a capital grant program to support recommendations of the commission. Operating resources for the commission are also accommodated in the DOS budget.
- $5 million for the New York Statewide Investment in More Swimming (SWIMS) initiative to provide additional resources to support more lifeguards and swimming instruction throughout the State.
- $150 million for anticipated additional Federal coastal zone management funding for state operations ($65 million) and local assistance ($85 million).
- Legislation to prohibit the re-use of Lithium Ion batteries.
- Legislation to enhance consumer protections for all New Yorkers.
Program Highlights
The responsibilities of the Department of State are carried out through three programs:
Local Government And Community Services Program: Manages New York’s building and energy codes; offers planning and management services to local governments; supports land use planning activities in the New York City/Catskill watershed; coordinates New York’s coastal resources and waterfront revitalization activities; administers the Department’s Federal grant programs, including the Appalachian Regional Commission; and provides a means for achieving economic self-sufficiency through programs designed to improve opportunities for low-income participants.
Business and Licensing Services Program: Maintains all certificates on file for businesses and corporations; administers qualifying examinations and licensing for various occupations; and prepares the State Register and other publications.
Administration: Provides the basic executive direction, fiscal, personnel, legal and electronic data processing activities that support the Department’s operations.
Additionally, the Department’s appropriations contain funds for the Lake George Park Commission, the Commission on Uniform State Laws, the State Athletic Commission, and the Authorities Budget Office.
| Category | Available FY 2024 |
Appropriations Recommended FY 2025 |
Change From FY 2024 |
Reappropriations Recommended FY 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Operations | 141,263,699 | 192,268,000 | 51,004,301 | 128,015,920 |
| Aid To Localities | 237,599,000 | 278,900,000 | 41,301,000 | 456,475,751 |
| Capital Projects | 202,000,000 | 212,000,000 | 10,000,000 | 833,142,000 |
| Total | 580,862,699 | 683,168,000 | 102,305,301 | 1,417,633,671 |
| Program | FY 2024 Estimated FTEs 03/31/24 |
FY 2025 Estimated FTEs 03/31/25 |
FTE Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administration | |||
| General Fund | 65 | 75 | 10 |
| Authorities Budget Office | |||
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 20 | 20 | 0 |
| Code Enforcement | |||
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| Consumer Protection Program | |||
| General Fund | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 30 | 30 | 0 |
| Business and Licensing Services | |||
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 237 | 207 | (30) |
| Local Government and Community Services | |||
| General Fund | 133 | 133 | 0 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Federal | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 81 | 81 | 0 |
| Office for New Americans | |||
| General Fund | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Federal | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Tug Hill Commission | |||
| General Fund | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| Total | 622 | 602 | (20) |
| Fund Type | Available FY 2024 |
Recommended FY 2025 |
Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Fund | 20,500,544 | 24,300,000 | 3,799,456 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Federal | 15,052,000 | 80,052,000 | 65,000,000 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 105,711,155 | 87,916,000 | (17,795,155) |
| Total | 141,263,699 | 192,268,000 | 51,004,301 |
| Adjustments: | |||
| Transfer(s) From | |||
| Special Pay Bill | |||
| General Fund | (1,189,699) | ||
| Appropriated FY 2024 | 140,074,000 | ||
| Program | Available FY 2024 |
Recommended FY 2025 |
Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administration | |||
| General Fund | 9,021,544 | 8,551,000 | (470,544) |
| Authorities Budget Office | |||
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 3,359,000 | 3,407,000 | 48,000 |
| Business and Licensing Services | |||
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 69,626,155 | 75,998,000 | 6,371,845 |
| Code Enforcement | |||
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 2,327,000 | 4,009,000 | 1,682,000 |
| Consumer Protection Program | |||
| General Fund | 1,700,000 | 1,751,000 | 51,000 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Federal | 51,000 | 51,000 | 0 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 30,195,000 | 4,298,000 | (25,897,000) |
| Local Government and Community Services | |||
| General Fund | 5,956,000 | 6,134,000 | 178,000 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Federal | 15,001,000 | 80,001,000 | 65,000,000 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 154,000 | 154,000 | 0 |
| NEW YORK STATE ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMISSION | |||
| General Fund | 0 | 1,418,000 | 1,418,000 |
| NEW YORK STATE COMMISSION ON AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY | |||
| General Fund | 0 | 1,046,000 | 1,046,000 |
| OFFICE OF FAITH AND NON-PROFIT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES | |||
| General Fund | 0 | 1,500,000 | 1,500,000 |
| Office for New Americans | |||
| General Fund | 2,500,000 | 2,545,000 | 45,000 |
| State of NY Commission on Uniform State Laws | |||
| General Fund | 155,000 | 155,000 | 0 |
| Tug Hill Commission | |||
| General Fund | 1,168,000 | 1,200,000 | 32,000 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 50,000 | 50,000 | 0 |
| Total | 141,263,699 | 192,268,000 | 51,004,301 |
| Program | Total | Personal Service Regular (Annual Salaried) |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | Amount | Change | |
| Administration | 3,301,000 | (470,544) | 3,201,000 | (470,544) |
| Consumer Protection Program | 1,751,000 | 51,000 | 1,751,000 | 51,000 |
| Local Government and Community Services | 6,134,000 | 178,000 | 6,100,000 | 178,000 |
| NEW YORK STATE ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMISSION | 475,000 | 475,000 | 475,000 | 475,000 |
| NEW YORK STATE COMMISSION ON AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY | 526,000 | 526,000 | 526,000 | 526,000 |
| OFFICE OF FAITH AND NON-PROFIT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000 |
| Office for New Americans | 1,545,000 | 45,000 | 1,545,000 | 45,000 |
| Tug Hill Commission | 1,092,000 | 32,000 | 1,092,000 | 32,000 |
| Total | 15,824,000 | 1,836,456 | 15,690,000 | 1,836,456 |
| Program | Temporary Service (Nonannual Salaried) |
Holiday/Overtime Pay | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | Amount | Change | |
| Administration | 90,000 | 0 | 10,000 | 0 |
| Local Government and Community Services | 30,000 | 0 | 4,000 | 0 |
| Total | 120,000 | 0 | 14,000 | 0 |
| Program | Total | Supplies and Materials | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | Amount | Change | |
| Administration | 5,250,000 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| NEW YORK STATE ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMISSION | 943,000 | 943,000 | 53,000 | 53,000 |
| NEW YORK STATE COMMISSION ON AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY | 520,000 | 520,000 | 50,000 | 50,000 |
| OFFICE OF FAITH AND NON-PROFIT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES | 500,000 | 500,000 | 100,000 | 100,000 |
| Office for New Americans | 1,000,000 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| State of NY Commission on Uniform State Laws | 155,000 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tug Hill Commission | 108,000 | 0 | 13,000 | 0 |
| Total | 8,476,000 | 1,963,000 | 216,000 | 203,000 |
| Program | Travel | Contractual Services | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | Amount | Change | |
| Administration | 0 | 0 | 5,250,000 | 0 |
| NEW YORK STATE ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMISSION | 40,000 | 40,000 | 350,000 | 350,000 |
| NEW YORK STATE COMMISSION ON AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY | 20,000 | 20,000 | 350,000 | 350,000 |
| OFFICE OF FAITH AND NON-PROFIT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES | 50,000 | 50,000 | 250,000 | 250,000 |
| Office for New Americans | 0 | 0 | 1,000,000 | 0 |
| State of NY Commission on Uniform State Laws | 0 | 0 | 135,000 | 0 |
| Tug Hill Commission | 8,000 | 0 | 85,000 | 0 |
| Total | 118,000 | 110,000 | 7,420,000 | 950,000 |
| Program | Equipment | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | |
| NEW YORK STATE ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMISSION | 500,000 | 500,000 |
| NEW YORK STATE COMMISSION ON AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY | 100,000 | 100,000 |
| OFFICE OF FAITH AND NON-PROFIT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES | 100,000 | 100,000 |
| Tug Hill Commission | 2,000 | 0 |
| Total | 702,000 | 700,000 |
| Program | Maintenance Undistributed | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | |
| State of NY Commission on Uniform State Laws | 20,000 | 0 |
| Total | 20,000 | 0 |
| Program | Total | Personal Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | Amount | Change | |
| Authorities Budget Office | 3,407,000 | 48,000 | 1,639,000 | 48,000 |
| Business and Licensing Services | 75,998,000 | 6,371,845 | 27,794,000 | 1,706,255 |
| Code Enforcement | 4,009,000 | 1,682,000 | 1,423,000 | 458,000 |
| Consumer Protection Program | 4,349,000 | (25,897,000) | 1,796,000 | (9,448,000) |
| Local Government and Community Services | 80,155,000 | 65,000,000 | 11,809,000 | 2,000,000 |
| Tug Hill Commission | 50,000 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 167,968,000 | 47,204,845 | 44,461,000 | (5,235,745) |
| Program | Nonpersonal Service | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | |
| Authorities Budget Office | 1,768,000 | 0 |
| Business and Licensing Services | 48,204,000 | 4,665,590 |
| Code Enforcement | 2,586,000 | 1,224,000 |
| Consumer Protection Program | 2,553,000 | (16,449,000) |
| Local Government and Community Services | 68,346,000 | 63,000,000 |
| Tug Hill Commission | 50,000 | 0 |
| Total | 123,507,000 | 52,440,590 |
| Fund Type | Available FY 2024 |
Recommended FY 2025 |
Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Fund | 101,399,000 | 57,700,000 | (43,699,000) |
| Special Revenue Funds - Federal | 134,700,000 | 219,700,000 | 85,000,000 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 1,500,000 | 1,500,000 | 0 |
| Total | 237,599,000 | 278,900,000 | 41,301,000 |
| Program | Available FY 2024 |
Recommended FY 2025 |
Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local Government and Community Services | |||
| General Fund | 8,399,000 | 10,000,000 | 1,601,000 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Federal | 134,700,000 | 219,700,000 | 85,000,000 |
| OFFICE OF FAITH AND NON-PROFIT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES | |||
| General Fund | 0 | 3,500,000 | 3,500,000 |
| Office for New Americans | |||
| General Fund | 93,000,000 | 44,200,000 | (48,800,000) |
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 1,500,000 | 1,500,000 | 0 |
| Total | 237,599,000 | 278,900,000 | 41,301,000 |
| Comprehensive Construction Program | Available FY 2024 |
Recommended FY 2025 |
Change | Reappropriations FY 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown Revitalization | ||||
| Capital Projects Fund - Authority Bonds | 200,000,000 | 200,000,000 | 0 | 757,843,000 |
| Infrastructure Investment – Settlement Funds | 0 | 0 | 0 | 70,782,000 |
| Maintenance and Repair | ||||
| Capital Projects Fund | 2,000,000 | 2,000,000 | 0 | 4,187,000 |
| NYS Commission on African American History | ||||
| Capital Projects Fund | 0 | 10,000,000 | 10,000,000 | 0 |
| Solid and Hazardous Waste Management | ||||
| Hazardous Waste Remedial Fund | 0 | 0 | 0 | 330,000 |
| Total | 202,000,000 | 212,000,000 | 10,000,000 | 833,142,000 |
Note: Most recent estimates as of 01/16/2024