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 FY 2022 Executive Budget recommends $266.5 million All Funds appropriation for the Department of Law. This figure reflects a $16 million decrease from FY 2021 due to the reappropriation of capital and aid to localities funding. Additionally, the Department of Law maintains their workforce of 1,782 FTEs, unchanged from the previous fiscal year.

The FY 2022 Executive Budget includes $6.7 million in capital reappropriation for the support of IT equipment, systems upgrades, and an on-going Case Management System Redesign project.

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 2021
Appropriations
Recommended
FY 2022
Change From
FY 2021
Reappropriations
Recommended
FY 2022
State Operations 266,446,000 266,446,000 0 39,315,000
Aid To Localities 10,000,000 0 (10,000,000) 11,279,000
Capital Projects 6,000,000 0 (6,000,000) 6,726,000
Total 282,446,000 266,446,000 (16,000,000) 57,320,000

ALL FUND TYPES
PROJECTED LEVELS OF EMPLOYMENT BY PROGRAM
FILLED ANNUAL SALARIED POSITIONS
Program FY 2021
Estimated FTEs
03/31/21
FY 2022
Estimated FTEs
03/31/22
FTE Change
Administration
General Fund 185 185 0
Appeals and Opinions
General Fund 42 48 6
Counsel for the State
General Fund 364 358 (6)
Special Revenue Funds - Other 114 114 0
Internal Service Funds 88 88 0
Criminal Investigations
General Fund 145 145 0
Economic Justice
General Fund 1 1 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 121 121 0
Social Justice
General Fund 74 74 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 84 84 0
Capital Projects Funds - Other 3 3 0
Criminal Justice
General Fund 87 87 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 52 52 0
Medicaid Fraud Control
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 201 201 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 83 83 0
Regional Offices
General Fund 138 138 0
Total 1,782 1,782 0

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY FUND TYPE
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Fund Type Available
FY 2021
Recommended
FY 2022
Change
General Fund 111,883,000 111,883,000 0
Internal Service Funds 16,700,000 16,700,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 42,912,000 42,912,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 94,951,000 94,951,000 0
Total 266,446,000 266,446,000 0

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Program Available
FY 2021
Recommended
FY 2022
Change
Administration
General Fund 16,099,000 15,687,000 (412,000)
Appeals and Opinions
General Fund 9,481,000 9,108,000 (373,000)
Counsel for the State
General Fund 35,048,000 35,891,000 843,000
Internal Service Funds 16,700,000 16,700,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 29,686,000 27,152,000 (2,534,000)
Criminal Investigations
General Fund 13,897,000 13,873,000 (24,000)
Criminal Justice
General Fund 11,300,000 10,911,000 (389,000)
Special Revenue Funds - Other 1,372,000 1,372,000 0
Economic Justice
General Fund 152,000 152,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 29,966,000 29,966,000 0
Medicaid Fraud Control
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 42,912,000 42,912,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Other 14,304,000 14,304,000 0
Regional Offices
General Fund 17,860,000 17,805,000 (55,000)
Social Justice
General Fund 8,046,000 8,456,000 410,000
Special Revenue Funds - Other 19,623,000 22,157,000 2,534,000
Total 266,446,000 266,446,000 0

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF PERSONAL SERVICE APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2022 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program Total Personal Service Regular
(Annual Salaried)
Amount Change Amount Change
Administration 14,520,000 (412,000) 14,323,000 (412,000)
Appeals and Opinions 8,065,000 (373,000) 8,038,000 (373,000)
Counsel for the State 33,762,000 843,000 33,682,000 843,000
Criminal Investigations 13,497,000 (24,000) 12,901,000 (24,000)
Criminal Justice 9,736,000 (389,000) 9,715,000 (389,000)
Economic Justice 152,000 0 0 0
Regional Offices 14,627,000 (55,000) 13,894,000 (55,000)
Social Justice 5,742,000 410,000 5,715,000 410,000
Total 100,101,000 0 98,268,000 0
STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF PERSONAL SERVICE APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2022 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Temporary Service
(Nonannual Salaried)
Holiday/Overtime Pay
Amount Change Amount Change
Administration 160,000 0 37,000 0
Appeals and Opinions 26,000 0 1,000 0
Counsel for the State 78,000 0 2,000 0
Criminal Investigations 0 0 596,000 0
Criminal Justice 0 0 21,000 0
Economic Justice 152,000 0 0 0
Regional Offices 731,000 0 2,000 0
Social Justice 0 0 27,000 0
Total 1,147,000 0 686,000 0

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2022 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program Total Supplies and Materials
Amount Change Amount Change
Administration 1,167,000 0 775,000 0
Appeals and Opinions 1,043,000 0 389,000 0
Counsel for the State 2,129,000 0 1,000 0
Criminal Investigations 376,000 0 12,000 0
Criminal Justice 1,175,000 0 2,000 0
Regional Offices 3,178,000 0 2,000 0
Social Justice 2,714,000 0 35,000 0
Total 11,782,000 0 1,216,000 0
STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2022 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Travel Contractual Services
Amount Change Amount Change
Administration 107,000 0 285,000 0
Appeals and Opinions 20,000 0 634,000 0
Counsel for the State 0 0 2,128,000 0
Criminal Investigations 94,000 0 270,000 0
Criminal Justice 60,000 0 1,113,000 0
Regional Offices 100,000 0 3,076,000 0
Social Justice 0 0 2,679,000 0
Total 381,000 0 10,185,000 0

STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2022 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program Total Personal Service
Amount Change Amount Change
Counsel for the State 43,852,000 (2,534,000) 11,607,000 822,000
Criminal Justice 1,372,000 0 0 0
Economic Justice 29,966,000 0 12,820,000 4,000
Medicaid Fraud Control 57,216,000 0 29,472,000 0
Social Justice 22,157,000 2,534,000 11,155,000 1,548,000
Total 154,563,000 0 65,054,000 2,374,000
STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2022 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Nonpersonal Service
Amount Change
Counsel for the State 32,245,000 (3,356,000)
Criminal Justice 1,372,000 0
Economic Justice 17,146,000 (4,000)
Medicaid Fraud Control 27,744,000 0
Social Justice 11,002,000 986,000
Total 89,509,000 (2,374,000)

AID TO LOCALITIES
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY FUND TYPE
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Fund Type Available
FY 2021
Recommended
FY 2022
Change
Fiduciary 10,000,000 0 (10,000,000)
Total 10,000,000 0 (10,000,000)

AID TO LOCALITIES
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Program Available
FY 2021
Recommended
FY 2022
Change
Foreclosure Avoidance and Amelioration
Fiduciary 10,000,000 0 (10,000,000)
Total 10,000,000 0 (10,000,000)

CAPITAL PROJECTS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Comprehensive Construction Program Available
FY 2021
Recommended
FY 2022
Change Reappropriations
FY 2022
IT Initiative Program
Capital Projects Fund - Authority Bonds 6,000,000 0 (6,000,000) 6,726,000
Total 6,000,000 0 (6,000,000) 6,726,000

Note: Most recent estimates as of 01/19/2021