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; and supports businesses through various licensing and registration activities.
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 2020 Executive Budget recommends $252.2 million for the Department, an decrease of $1.4 million from the FY 2019 budget. This change results from the addition of capital funding for a fourth round of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative ($100 million) coupled with adjustments for general salary increases offset by a one-time FY 2019 appropriation for the Liberty Defense Program. The 2019 Liberty Defense Program moneys will be reappropriated in 2020.
The Executive Budget recommends a workforce of 565 FTEs for the Department, an increase of 40 FTE’s from FY 2019 FTE levels, due to the migration of certain call center operations from the Department of Tax and Finance to DOS.
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 2019 |
Appropriations Recommended FY 2020 |
Change From FY 2019 |
Reappropriations Recommended FY 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Operations | 70,564,000 | 73,927,000 | 3,363,000 | 20,721,000 |
| Aid To Localities | 83,129,000 | 76,340,000 | (6,789,000) | 112,768,000 |
| Capital Projects | 100,000,000 | 102,000,000 | 2,000,000 | 203,981,000 |
| Total | 253,693,000 | 252,267,000 | (1,426,000) | 337,470,000 |
| Program | FY 2019 Estimated FTEs 03/31/19 |
FY 2020 Estimated FTEs 03/31/20 |
FTE Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administration | |||
| General Fund | 60 | 60 | 0 |
| Authorities Budget Office | |||
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| Consumer Protection Program | |||
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| Lake George Park Commission | |||
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| Business and Licensing Services | |||
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 252 | 292 | 40 |
| Local Government and Community Services | |||
| General Fund | 55 | 55 | 0 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Federal | 17 | 17 | 0 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 81 | 81 | 0 |
| Office for New Americans | |||
| General Fund | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| Tug Hill Commission | |||
| General Fund | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| Total | 525 | 565 | 40 |
| Fund Type | Available FY 2019 |
Recommended FY 2020 |
Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Fund | 10,956,000 | 10,776,000 | (180,000) |
| Special Revenue Funds - Federal | 9,101,000 | 9,101,000 | 0 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 50,507,000 | 54,050,000 | 3,543,000 |
| Total | 70,564,000 | 73,927,000 | 3,363,000 |
| Adjustments: | |||
| Transfer(s) To | |||
| Employee Relations, Office of | |||
| General Fund | 102,000 | ||
| Appropriated FY 2019 | 70,666,000 | ||
| Program | Available FY 2019 |
Recommended FY 2020 |
Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administration | |||
| General Fund | 2,156,000 | 1,956,000 | (200,000) |
| Authorities Budget Office | |||
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 1,936,000 | 2,059,000 | 123,000 |
| Business and Licensing Services | |||
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 43,205,000 | 46,605,000 | 3,400,000 |
| Consumer Protection Program | |||
| General Fund | 1,586,000 | 1,586,000 | 0 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Federal | 51,000 | 51,000 | 0 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 3,130,000 | 3,130,000 | 0 |
| Lake George Park Commission | |||
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 2,032,000 | 2,052,000 | 20,000 |
| Local Government and Community Services | |||
| General Fund | 5,560,000 | 5,560,000 | 0 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Federal | 9,050,000 | 9,050,000 | 0 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 154,000 | 154,000 | 0 |
| Office for New Americans | |||
| General Fund | 442,000 | 442,000 | 0 |
| State of NY Commission on Uniform State Laws | |||
| General Fund | 135,000 | 135,000 | 0 |
| Tug Hill Commission | |||
| General Fund | 1,077,000 | 1,097,000 | 20,000 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 50,000 | 50,000 | 0 |
| Total | 70,564,000 | 73,927,000 | 3,363,000 |
| Program | Total | Personal Service Regular (Annual Salaried) |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | Amount | Change | |
| Administration | 1,956,000 | (50,000) | 1,915,000 | (50,000) |
| Consumer Protection Program | 1,586,000 | 0 | 1,586,000 | 0 |
| Local Government and Community Services | 5,560,000 | 0 | 5,526,000 | 0 |
| Office for New Americans | 442,000 | 0 | 442,000 | 0 |
| Tug Hill Commission | 989,000 | 20,000 | 989,000 | 20,000 |
| Total | 10,533,000 | (30,000) | 10,458,000 | (30,000) |
| Program | Temporary Service (Nonannual Salaried) |
Holiday/Overtime Pay | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | Amount | Change | |
| Administration | 36,000 | 0 | 5,000 | 0 |
| Local Government and Community Services | 30,000 | 0 | 4,000 | 0 |
| Total | 66,000 | 0 | 9,000 | 0 |
| Program | Total | Supplies and Materials | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | Amount | Change | |
| Administration | 0 | (150,000) | 0 | 0 |
| State of NY Commission on Uniform State Laws | 135,000 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tug Hill Commission | 108,000 | 0 | 13,000 | 0 |
| Total | 243,000 | (150,000) | 13,000 | 0 |
| Program | Travel | Contractual Services | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | Amount | Change | |
| Administration | 0 | 0 | 0 | (150,000) |
| State of NY Commission on Uniform State Laws | 0 | 0 | 135,000 | 0 |
| Tug Hill Commission | 8,000 | 0 | 85,000 | 0 |
| Total | 8,000 | 0 | 220,000 | (150,000) |
| Program | Equipment | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | |
| Tug Hill Commission | 2,000 | 0 |
| Total | 2,000 | 0 |
| Program | Total | Personal Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | Amount | Change | |
| Authorities Budget Office | 2,059,000 | 123,000 | 1,115,000 | 22,000 |
| Business and Licensing Services | 46,605,000 | 3,400,000 | 21,261,000 | 2,932,000 |
| Consumer Protection Program | 3,181,000 | 0 | 1,177,000 | 0 |
| Lake George Park Commission | 2,052,000 | 20,000 | 723,000 | 11,000 |
| Local Government and Community Services | 9,204,000 | 0 | 5,584,000 | 0 |
| Tug Hill Commission | 50,000 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 63,151,000 | 3,543,000 | 29,860,000 | 2,965,000 |
| Program | Nonpersonal Service | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | |
| Authorities Budget Office | 944,000 | 101,000 |
| Business and Licensing Services | 25,344,000 | 468,000 |
| Consumer Protection Program | 2,004,000 | 0 |
| Lake George Park Commission | 1,329,000 | 9,000 |
| Local Government and Community Services | 3,620,000 | 0 |
| Tug Hill Commission | 50,000 | 0 |
| Total | 33,291,000 | 578,000 |
| Fund Type | Available FY 2019 |
Recommended FY 2020 |
Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Fund | 12,290,000 | 6,440,000 | (5,850,000) |
| Special Revenue Funds - Federal | 69,900,000 | 69,900,000 | 0 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 939,000 | 0 | (939,000) |
| Total | 83,129,000 | 76,340,000 | (6,789,000) |
| Program | Available FY 2019 |
Recommended FY 2020 |
Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business and Licensing Services | |||
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 939,000 | 0 | (939,000) |
| Local Government and Community Services | |||
| General Fund | 850,000 | 0 | (850,000) |
| Special Revenue Funds - Federal | 69,900,000 | 69,900,000 | 0 |
| Office for New Americans | |||
| General Fund | 11,440,000 | 6,440,000 | (5,000,000) |
| Total | 83,129,000 | 76,340,000 | (6,789,000) |
| Comprehensive Construction Program | Available FY 2019 |
Recommended FY 2020 |
Change | Reappropriations FY 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown Revitalization | ||||
| Capital Projects Fund - Authority Bonds | 100,000,000 | 100,000,000 | 0 | 100,000,000 |
| Infrastructure Investment Account | 0 | 0 | 0 | 97,000,000 |
| Maintenance and Repair | ||||
| Capital Projects Fund | 0 | 2,000,000 | 2,000,000 | 0 |
| Solid and Hazardous Waste Management | ||||
| Haz Waste Remedial Fund - Oversight & Assessment | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6,981,000 |
| Total | 100,000,000 | 102,000,000 | 2,000,000 | 203,981,000 |
Note: Most recent estimates as of 1/15/2019