Law, Department of

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Agency Web Site: https://ag.ny.gov/Link to External Website

Mission

The Department of Law is responsible for protecting the legal rights of New York State and its citizens by representing the State in litigation and in other legal affairs.

In implementing its constitutional responsibilities, the Department performs a wide range of functions including prosecuting or defending actions and proceedings for or against the State and its departments; prosecuting certain criminal violations of the Labor, Workers’ Compensation, and Unemployment Insurance laws; investigating and prosecuting other criminal cases at the request of the Governor or the commissioners of State departments; investigating the activities of organized crime; bringing civil and/or criminal actions against polluters, violators of antitrust laws, and those who defraud consumers or investors; mediating consumer complaints; and investigating and prosecuting cases of Medicaid fraud.

Organization and Staffing

The legal functions and administrative functions of the Department of Law are divided into eight major divisions: Administration, Appeals and Opinions, Counsel for the State, Criminal Justice, Economic Justice, Investigations, Social Justice, and Regional Offices. Each division consists of smaller bureaus or specialized units dealing with specific issues.

The Department’s main offices are located in Albany and New York City, with regional offices in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Binghamton, Utica, Watertown, Plattsburgh, Poughkeepsie, White Plains, Harlem, Brooklyn, Mineola, and Hauppauge.

Budget Highlights

The Executive Budget recommends $250.9 million All Funds appropriation for the Department of Law, an All Funds decrease of $12.9 million. This decrease is because of one time costs associated with an office move in NYC. Additionally, the Department of Law maintains their workforce of 1,839 FTEs, unchanged from the previous fiscal year.

The Department of Law is receiving $2 million in new capital to support several on-going projects (Data Center Consolidation; Case Management System Redesign; Identity and Access Management).

Program Highlights

The Administration Division provides budget, finance, personnel, operations, and technology services for the agency.

The Division of Appeals and Opinions handles appellate litigation in both State and Federal courts. The Division also prepares opinions, both formal and informal, interpreting State laws for State agencies and municipalities.

The Criminal Justice Division investigates and prosecutes criminal cases, including those involving Medicaid fraud, auto insurance fraud, white collar and organized crime cases involving multi-county, multi-state and even multi-national criminal activities occurring within New York State.

The Investigations Division provides investigative support for legal divisions throughout the Department, and works cooperatively with State, local and Federal law enforcement agencies on cases that cross jurisdictional lines.

The Division of State Counsel provides State agencies, the Governor, other State officials, and the Legislature with counsel and representation in legal proceedings. It recoups non-tax revenue on behalf of State taxpayers and provides legal assistance to State agencies in connection with the acquisition and disposition of public land.

The Division of Economic Justice defends and protects the public interest in the courts. It enforces laws to prevent restraint of trade, protects consumers from fraudulent and/or deceptive business practices, regulates the sale of securities, and addresses people’s concerns about criminal online activities.

The Division of Social Justice also defends and protects the public interest in the courts. It ensures compliance with the State’s health care and environmental laws, enforces State Labor and Workers’ Compensation Laws, protects charitable donors and beneficiaries, and enforces laws prohibiting discrimination.

The Regional Offices Division provides satellite offices across the State to ensure that all New York agencies have cost-effective representation in all local, State and Federal courts, and that citizens have full access to the programs and services of the Department.

ALL FUNDS
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Category Available
FY 2019
Appropriations
Recommended
FY 2020
Change From
FY 2019
Reappropriations
Recommended
FY 2020
State Operations 262,872,000 248,927,000 (13,945,000) 27,237,000
Aid To Localities 0 0 0 22,403,000
Capital Projects 1,000,000 2,000,000 1,000,000 8,018,000
Total 263,872,000 250,927,000 (12,945,000) 57,658,000

ALL FUND TYPES
PROJECTED LEVELS OF EMPLOYMENT BY PROGRAM
FILLED ANNUAL SALARIED POSITIONS
Program FY 2019
Estimated FTEs
03/31/19
FY 2020
Estimated FTEs
03/31/20
FTE Change
Administration
General Fund 185 185 0
Appeals and Opinions
General Fund 87 87 0
Counsel for the State
General Fund 336 336 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 114 114 0
Internal Service Funds 50 50 0
Criminal Investigations
General Fund 151 151 0
Economic Justice
General Fund 1 1 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 135 135 0
Social Justice
General Fund 74 74 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 84 84 0
Capital Projects Funds - Other 7 7 0
Criminal Justice
General Fund 93 93 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 52 52 0
Medicaid Fraud Control
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 249 249 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 83 83 0
Regional Offices
General Fund 138 138 0
Total 1,839 1,839 0

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY FUND TYPE
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Fund Type Available
FY 2019
Recommended
FY 2020
Change
General Fund 107,538,000 109,689,000 2,151,000
Internal Service Funds 20,530,000 4,000,000 (16,530,000)
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 43,644,000 42,144,000 (1,500,000)
Special Revenue Funds - Other 91,160,000 93,094,000 1,934,000
Total 262,872,000 248,927,000 (13,945,000)

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Program Available
FY 2019
Recommended
FY 2020
Change
Administration
General Fund 16,076,000 16,099,000 23,000
Appeals and Opinions
General Fund 9,130,000 9,315,000 185,000
Counsel for the State
General Fund 33,297,000 34,294,000 997,000
Internal Service Funds 20,530,000 4,000,000 (16,530,000)
Special Revenue Funds - Other 29,544,000 29,625,000 81,000
Criminal Investigations
General Fund 13,417,000 13,688,000 271,000
Criminal Justice
General Fund 11,095,000 11,300,000 205,000
Special Revenue Funds - Other 1,436,000 1,436,000 0
Economic Justice
General Fund 82,000 64,000 (18,000)
Special Revenue Funds - Other 28,736,000 29,793,000 1,057,000
Medicaid Fraud Control
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 43,644,000 42,144,000 (1,500,000)
Special Revenue Funds - Other 13,831,000 14,048,000 217,000
Regional Offices
General Fund 16,461,000 16,937,000 476,000
Social Justice
General Fund 7,980,000 7,992,000 12,000
Special Revenue Funds - Other 17,613,000 18,192,000 579,000
Total 262,872,000 248,927,000 (13,945,000)

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF PERSONAL SERVICE APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2020 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program Total Personal Service Regular
(Annual Salaried)
Amount Change Amount Change
Administration 14,932,000 1,000 14,735,000 0
Appeals and Opinions 8,272,000 164,000 8,264,000 160,000
Counsel for the State 32,165,000 1,060,000 32,153,000 1,066,000
Criminal Investigations 13,312,000 100,000 12,770,000 0
Criminal Justice 10,125,000 196,000 10,104,000 196,000
Economic Justice 64,000 (18,000) 0 (82,000)
Regional Offices 13,759,000 414,000 13,646,000 412,000
Social Justice 5,278,000 2,000 5,251,000 1,000
Total 97,907,000 1,919,000 96,923,000 1,753,000
STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF PERSONAL SERVICE APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2020 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Temporary Service
(Nonannual Salaried)
Holiday/Overtime Pay
Amount Change Amount Change
Administration 160,000 0 37,000 1,000
Appeals and Opinions 7,000 4,000 1,000 0
Counsel for the State 10,000 (6,000) 2,000 0
Criminal Investigations 0 0 542,000 100,000
Criminal Justice 0 0 21,000 0
Economic Justice 64,000 64,000 0 0
Regional Offices 111,000 2,000 2,000 0
Social Justice 0 0 27,000 1,000
Total 352,000 64,000 632,000 102,000

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2020 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program Total Supplies and Materials
Amount Change Amount Change
Administration 1,167,000 22,000 775,000 15,000
Appeals and Opinions 1,043,000 21,000 389,000 7,000
Counsel for the State 2,129,000 (63,000) 1,000 0
Criminal Investigations 376,000 171,000 12,000 1,000
Criminal Justice 1,175,000 9,000 2,000 (3,000)
Regional Offices 3,178,000 62,000 2,000 0
Social Justice 2,714,000 10,000 35,000 0
Total 11,782,000 232,000 1,216,000 20,000
STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2020 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Travel Contractual Services
Amount Change Amount Change
Administration 107,000 2,000 285,000 5,000
Appeals and Opinions 20,000 0 634,000 14,000
Counsel for the State 0 0 2,128,000 (63,000)
Criminal Investigations 94,000 0 270,000 170,000
Criminal Justice 60,000 0 1,113,000 12,000
Regional Offices 100,000 0 3,076,000 62,000
Social Justice 0 0 2,679,000 10,000
Total 381,000 2,000 10,185,000 210,000

STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2020 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program Total Personal Service
Amount Change Amount Change
Counsel for the State 33,625,000 (16,449,000) 6,156,000 (708,000)
Criminal Justice 1,436,000 0 0 0
Economic Justice 29,793,000 1,057,000 12,615,000 388,000
Medicaid Fraud Control 56,192,000 (1,283,000) 27,680,000 672,000
Social Justice 18,192,000 579,000 8,697,000 849,000
Total 139,238,000 (16,096,000) 55,148,000 1,201,000
STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2020 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Nonpersonal Service
Amount Change
Counsel for the State 27,469,000 (15,741,000)
Criminal Justice 1,436,000 0
Economic Justice 17,178,000 669,000
Medicaid Fraud Control 28,512,000 (1,955,000)
Social Justice 9,495,000 (270,000)
Total 84,090,000 (17,297,000)

CAPITAL PROJECTS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Comprehensive Construction Program Available
FY 2019
Recommended
FY 2020
Change Reappropriations
FY 2020
IT Initiative Program
Capital Projects Fund 1,000,000 0 (1,000,000) 965,000
Capital Projects Fund - Authority Bonds 0 2,000,000 2,000,000 7,053,000
Total 1,000,000 2,000,000 1,000,000 8,018,000

Note: Most recent estimates as of 1/15/2019