State, Department of

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

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 2021 Executive Budget recommends $255 million for the Department, a decrease of almost $10.6 million from the FY 2020 Budget, primarily due to one-time adds.

The Executive Budget recommends a workforce of 577 FTEs for the Department, an increase of 12 FTE’s from FY 2020 levels, to support increased code enforcement activities.

Major budget actions include:

  • Legislation to extend for one year the authority of the Secretary of State to charge increased fees for expedited handling of documents.
  • Legislation to prohibit Gender-based pricing discrimination.
  • Legislation to provide the option for individuals to become licensed as a home inspector through New York State testing standards.
  • Legislation to remove barriers to obtain an occupational license.
  • Legislation to unmask and fight back against telemarketers, spoofing and robocalls.
  • Legislation to place responsibility for mailing a copy of service of process on plaintiffs rather than the Department.
  • Legislation to add 'E Pluribus Unum' to the New York State Coat of Arms.

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.

ALL FUNDS
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Category Available
FY 2020
Appropriations
Recommended
FY 2021
Change From
FY 2020
Reappropriations
Recommended
FY 2021
State Operations 74,547,000 76,703,000 2,156,000 24,336,513
Aid To Localities 89,090,000 76,340,000 (12,750,000) 133,689,000
Capital Projects 102,000,000 102,000,000 0 294,470,000
Total 265,637,000 255,043,000 (10,594,000) 452,495,513

ALL FUND TYPES
PROJECTED LEVELS OF EMPLOYMENT BY PROGRAM
FILLED ANNUAL SALARIED POSITIONS
Program FY 2020
Estimated FTEs
03/31/20
FY 2021
Estimated FTEs
03/31/21
FTE Change
Administration
General Fund 60 60 0
Authorities Budget Office
Special Revenue Funds - Other 12 12 0
Code Enforcement
Special Revenue Funds - Other 0 12 12
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 292 292 0
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 565 577 12

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY FUND TYPE
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Fund Type Available
FY 2020
Recommended
FY 2021
Change
General Fund 10,796,000 10,796,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 9,101,000 9,101,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 54,650,000 56,806,000 2,156,000
Total 74,547,000 76,703,000 2,156,000

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Program Available
FY 2020
Recommended
FY 2021
Change
Administration
General Fund 1,956,000 1,956,000 0
Authorities Budget Office
Special Revenue Funds - Other 2,059,000 2,050,000 (9,000)
Business and Licensing Services
Special Revenue Funds - Other 47,205,000 47,205,000 0
Code Enforcement
Special Revenue Funds - Other 0 2,165,000 2,165,000
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 2,052,000 2,052,000 0
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 155,000 155,000 0
Tug Hill Commission
General Fund 1,097,000 1,097,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 50,000 50,000 0
Total 74,547,000 76,703,000 2,156,000

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF PERSONAL SERVICE APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2021 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program Total Personal Service Regular
(Annual Salaried)
Amount Change Amount Change
Administration 1,956,000 0 1,915,000 0
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 0 989,000 0
Total 10,533,000 0 10,458,000 0
STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF PERSONAL SERVICE APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2021 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
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

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2021 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program Total Supplies and Materials
Amount Change Amount Change
State of NY Commission on Uniform State Laws 155,000 0 0 0
Tug Hill Commission 108,000 0 13,000 0
Total 263,000 0 13,000 0
STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2021 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Travel Contractual Services
Amount Change Amount Change
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 0
STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2021 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Equipment
Amount Change
Tug Hill Commission 2,000 0
Total 2,000 0
STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2021 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Maintenance Undistributed
Amount Change
State of NY Commission on Uniform State Laws 20,000 0
Total 20,000 0

STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2021 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program Total Personal Service
Amount Change Amount Change
Authorities Budget Office 2,050,000 (9,000) 1,115,000 0
Business and Licensing Services 47,205,000 0 21,261,000 0
Code Enforcement 2,165,000 2,165,000 900,000 900,000
Consumer Protection Program 3,181,000 0 1,177,000 0
Lake George Park Commission 2,052,000 0 723,000 0
Local Government and Community Services 9,204,000 0 5,584,000 0
Tug Hill Commission 50,000 0 0 0
Total 65,907,000 2,156,000 30,760,000 900,000
STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2021 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Nonpersonal Service
Amount Change
Authorities Budget Office 935,000 (9,000)
Business and Licensing Services 25,944,000 0
Code Enforcement 1,265,000 1,265,000
Consumer Protection Program 2,004,000 0
Lake George Park Commission 1,329,000 0
Local Government and Community Services 3,620,000 0
Tug Hill Commission 50,000 0
Total 35,147,000 1,256,000

AID TO LOCALITIES
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY FUND TYPE
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Fund Type Available
FY 2020
Recommended
FY 2021
Change
General Fund 19,190,000 6,440,000 (12,750,000)
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 69,900,000 69,900,000 0
Total 89,090,000 76,340,000 (12,750,000)

AID TO LOCALITIES
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Program Available
FY 2020
Recommended
FY 2021
Change
Local Government and Community Services
General Fund 1,750,000 0 (1,750,000)
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 69,900,000 69,900,000 0
Office for New Americans
General Fund 17,440,000 6,440,000 (11,000,000)
Total 89,090,000 76,340,000 (12,750,000)

CAPITAL PROJECTS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Comprehensive Construction Program Available
FY 2020
Recommended
FY 2021
Change Reappropriations
FY 2021
Downtown Revitalization
Capital Projects Fund - Authority Bonds 100,000,000 100,000,000 0 197,000,000
Infrastructure Investment – Settlement Funds 0 0 0 92,000,000
Maintenance and Repair
Capital Projects Fund 2,000,000 2,000,000 0 970,000
Solid and Hazardous Waste Management
Hazardous Waste Remedial Fund 0 0 0 4,500,000
Total 102,000,000 102,000,000 0 294,470,000

Note: Most recent estimates as of 01/29/2020

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