Human Rights, Division of

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

Mission

New York was the first state in the nation to enact a civil rights law, affording every individual an equal opportunity to enjoy a full and productive life, including in the areas of employment, housing, public accommodations, education, and credit. Under the State’s Human Rights Law (HRL), discrimination based on race, sex, age, military status, sexual orientation, disability or membership in other specified classes is illegal. The Division of Human Rights (DHR) is charged with enforcing the HRL and protecting the civil rights of New Yorkers. To fulfill these responsibilities, DHR prosecutes unlawful discriminatory practices, investigates and resolves individual complaints of illegal discrimination, advances policies and legislation that expand and/or better protect the civil rights of New Yorkers, and promotes human rights awareness through education and outreach.

Organization and Staffing

DHR operates from its main office in the Bronx and from seven regional offices in Albany, Brooklyn, Buffalo, Hempstead, Manhattan, Rochester and White Plains, and three satellite offices in Binghamton, Hauppauge, and Syracuse. The Office of Sexual Harassment Issues investigates cases from Queens.

Budget Highlights

The FY 2024 Executive Budget recommends $28.8 million, a $8.2 million increase from FY 2023.

The FY 2024 Executive Budget recommends a workforce of 174 FTEs for DHR, an increase of 4 from FY 2023 workforce levels.

Major budget actions in the Executive Budget include $4.3 million in investments to support DHR's efforts in protecting New Yorkers from unlawful discrimination based on their protected class status, and $3.5 million for grants, staffing, trainings, conferences, toolkits, and other educational, public awareness, and outreach efforts to combat hate and bias incidents.

For more information on this agency's budget recommendations located in the Executive Budget Briefing Book, click on the following link:

Program Highlights

Investigations, Prosecutions and Hearings

DHR receives formally filed complaints of HRL violations. Alleged violations are investigated and, in cases where there is probable cause that unlawful discrimination occurred, DHR holds hearings before an Administrative Law Judge and resolves the complaint based on that hearing.

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Work-Share Agreement

DHR investigates cases of employment discrimination for the EEOC pursuant to the Federal Work-Share Agreement.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Cooperative Agreement

DHR investigates and prosecutes cases of housing discrimination pursuant to the Federal Cooperative Agreement. Additionally, DHR conducts fair housing education and outreach activities.

ALL FUNDS
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Category Available
FY 2023
Appropriations
Recommended
FY 2024
Change From
FY 2023
Reappropriations
Recommended
FY 2024
State Operations 21,014,268 28,888,000 7,873,732 13,495,000
Total 21,014,268 28,888,000 7,873,732 13,495,000

ALL FUND TYPES
PROJECTED LEVELS OF EMPLOYMENT BY PROGRAM
FILLED ANNUAL SALARIED POSITIONS
Program FY 2023
Estimated FTEs
03/31/23
FY 2024
Estimated FTEs
03/31/24
FTE Change
Administration
General Fund 133 137 4
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 37 37 0
Total 170 174 4

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY FUND TYPE
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Fund Type Available
FY 2023
Recommended
FY 2024
Change
General Fund 14,996,268 22,870,000 7,873,732
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 6,018,000 6,018,000 0
Total 21,014,268 28,888,000 7,873,732
Adjustments:
Transfer(s) From
Special Pay Bill
General Fund (281,268)
Appropriated FY 2023 20,733,000

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Program Available
FY 2023
Recommended
FY 2024
Change
Administration
General Fund 14,996,268 19,370,000 4,373,732
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 6,018,000 6,018,000 0
HATE AND BIAS PREVENTION
General Fund 0 3,500,000 3,500,000
Total 21,014,268 28,888,000 7,873,732

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF PERSONAL SERVICE APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2024 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program Total Personal Service Regular
(Annual Salaried)
Amount Change Amount Change
Administration 15,865,000 3,274,732 15,466,000 3,184,732
HATE AND BIAS PREVENTION 2,616,000 2,616,000 2,496,000 2,496,000
Total 18,481,000 5,890,732 17,962,000 5,680,732
STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF PERSONAL SERVICE APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2024 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Temporary Service
(Nonannual Salaried)
Holiday/Overtime Pay
Amount Change Amount Change
Administration 351,000 59,000 48,000 31,000
HATE AND BIAS PREVENTION 60,000 60,000 60,000 60,000
Total 411,000 119,000 108,000 91,000

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2024 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program Total Supplies and Materials
Amount Change Amount Change
Administration 3,505,000 1,099,000 557,000 421,000
HATE AND BIAS PREVENTION 884,000 884,000 22,000 22,000
Total 4,389,000 1,983,000 579,000 443,000
STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2024 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Travel Contractual Services
Amount Change Amount Change
Administration 160,000 50,000 2,690,000 644,000
HATE AND BIAS PREVENTION 3,000 3,000 832,000 832,000
Total 163,000 53,000 3,522,000 1,476,000
STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2024 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Equipment
Amount Change
Administration 98,000 (16,000)
HATE AND BIAS PREVENTION 27,000 27,000
Total 125,000 11,000

STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2024 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program Total Personal Service
Amount Change Amount Change
Administration 6,018,000 0 2,749,000 0
Total 6,018,000 0 2,749,000 0
STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2024 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Nonpersonal Service
Amount Change
Administration 3,269,000 0
Total 3,269,000 0

Note: Most recent estimates as of 02/01/2023