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 2022 Executive Budget recommends $352.6 million for the Department, an increase of almost $27 million from the FY 2021 Budget, primarily due to an expected increase in certain Federal funding and support for the Office of Renewable Energy Siting. This includes $102 million in capital funding for the Department, to support another round of DRI and Cemetery Maintenance.

The Executive Budget recommends a workforce of 572 FTEs for the Department, an increase of 31 FTE’s from revised FY 2021 levels, primarily to support the Office of Renewable Energy Siting.

Major budget actions include:

  • $10 million in funding to support the continuation of the Liberty Defense Program.
  • $100 million in capital funding for another round of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI).
  • Legislation to make permanent provisions of law permitting the Secretary of State to charge increased fees from the expedited handling of documents issued by or requested from, the Department's Division of Corporations.
  • Legislation to authorize the Secretary of State to forward notice of service of process to entities by email and then make copies of process available to such entities.
  • Legislation to permit notaries to rely on approved technologies to verify identity and to notarize documents and exercise notarial authority remotely.

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 2021
Appropriations
Recommended
FY 2022
Change From
FY 2021
Reappropriations
Recommended
FY 2022
State Operations 90,253,000 103,501,000 13,248,000 50,261,605
Aid To Localities 128,983,751 147,140,000 18,156,249 212,182,751
Capital Projects 102,000,000 102,000,000 0 393,269,000
Total 321,236,751 352,641,000 31,404,249 655,713,356

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 60 60 0
Authorities Budget Office
Special Revenue Funds - Other 12 12 0
Code Enforcement
Special Revenue Funds - Other 12 12 0
Consumer Protection Program
Special Revenue Funds - Other 15 15 0
Business and Licensing Services
Special Revenue Funds - Other 182 222 40
Local Government and Community Services
General Fund 142 133 (9)
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 14 11 (3)
Special Revenue Funds - Other 81 81 0
Office for New Americans
General Fund 8 8 0
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 0 3 3
Tug Hill Commission
General Fund 15 15 0
Total 541 572 31

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY FUND TYPE
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Fund Type Available
FY 2021
Recommended
FY 2022
Change
General Fund 10,796,000 10,796,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 12,051,000 13,851,000 1,800,000
Special Revenue Funds - Other 67,406,000 78,854,000 11,448,000
Total 90,253,000 103,501,000 13,248,000

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Program Available
FY 2021
Recommended
FY 2022
Change
Administration
General Fund 1,956,000 1,956,000 0
Authorities Budget Office
Special Revenue Funds - Other 2,050,000 2,050,000 0
Business and Licensing Services
Special Revenue Funds - Other 47,805,000 51,305,000 3,500,000
Code Enforcement
Special Revenue Funds - Other 2,165,000 2,165,000 0
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 13,130,000 23,130,000 10,000,000
Lake George Park Commission
Special Revenue Funds - Other 2,052,000 0 (2,052,000)
Local Government and Community Services
General Fund 5,560,000 5,560,000 0
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 12,000,000 13,800,000 1,800,000
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 90,253,000 103,501,000 13,248,000

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 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 2022 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 2022 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 2022 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 2022 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 2022 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 2022 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program Total Personal Service
Amount Change Amount Change
Authorities Budget Office 2,050,000 0 1,115,000 0
Business and Licensing Services 51,305,000 3,500,000 21,261,000 0
Code Enforcement 2,165,000 0 900,000 0
Consumer Protection Program 23,181,000 10,000,000 4,177,000 0
Lake George Park Commission 0 (2,052,000) 0 (723,000)
Local Government and Community Services 13,954,000 1,800,000 9,109,000 2,200,000
Tug Hill Commission 50,000 0 0 0
Total 92,705,000 13,248,000 36,562,000 1,477,000
STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2022 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program Nonpersonal Service Maintenance Undistributed
Amount Change Amount Change
Authorities Budget Office 935,000 0 0 0
Business and Licensing Services 30,044,000 3,500,000 0 0
Code Enforcement 1,265,000 0 0 0
Consumer Protection Program 9,004,000 0 10,000,000 10,000,000
Lake George Park Commission 0 (1,329,000) 0 0
Local Government and Community Services 4,845,000 (400,000) 0 0
Tug Hill Commission 50,000 0 0 0
Total 46,143,000 1,771,000 10,000,000 10,000,000

AID TO LOCALITIES
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY FUND TYPE
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Fund Type Available
FY 2021
Recommended
FY 2022
Change
General Fund 18,783,751 16,440,000 (2,343,751)
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 110,200,000 130,700,000 20,500,000
Total 128,983,751 147,140,000 18,156,249

AID TO LOCALITIES
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Program Available
FY 2021
Recommended
FY 2022
Change
Local Government and Community Services
General Fund 2,343,751 0 (2,343,751)
Special Revenue Funds - Federal 110,200,000 130,700,000 20,500,000
Office for New Americans
General Fund 16,440,000 16,440,000 0
Total 128,983,751 147,140,000 18,156,249

CAPITAL PROJECTS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Comprehensive Construction Program Available
FY 2021
Recommended
FY 2022
Change Reappropriations
FY 2022
Downtown Revitalization
Capital Projects Fund - Authority Bonds 100,000,000 100,000,000 0 295,355,000
Infrastructure Investment – Settlement Funds 0 0 0 93,489,000
Maintenance and Repair
Capital Projects Fund 2,000,000 2,000,000 0 1,776,000
Solid and Hazardous Waste Management
Hazardous Waste Remedial Fund 0 0 0 2,649,000
Total 102,000,000 102,000,000 0 393,269,000

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