Civil Service, Department of
skip breadcrumbsAgency Web Site: https://www.cs.ny.gov/
Mission
The Department of Civil Service is charged with providing human resource management services to the State and local governments, serving approximately 150,000 State employees and 360,000 local government employees. The Department assists State agencies with workforce recruitment and placement services, administers tests, oversees job classifications, assists municipal agencies with administration, and administers the State's health insurance program.
Organization and Staffing
The agency is organized into the following divisions: Merit and Fitness, Employee Benefits, Classification and Compensation, and Commission Operations and Municipal Assistance.
The New York State Civil Service Commission, a separate entity, is composed of three members: the President of the Commission, who is also the Commissioner of the Department of Civil Service, and two other commissioners. The Commission adopts and modifies rules governing a wide range of State civil service matters.
Major Programs
Executive Direction
The Agency leadership provides operational management of the Agency and strategic direction for the State as it relates to workforce management. With its agency partners, the Department is actively supporting civil service reform initiatives such as: title consolidation/skill development; knowledge transfer/succession planning; employee recognition; and exam system modernization. In addition, as the administrator of one of the Nation’s largest employer-sponsored health plans, the Department strives to provide comprehensive and affordable health insurance coverage for its participants, while protecting the State’s taxpayers through cost-effective management.
Classification and Compensation
The Classification and Compensation Division is responsible for establishing and maintaining a sound title and position classification system for State government that ensures equitable pay that is adaptable to market conditions. The Department’s initiative, C&C Direct, allows for a better alignment between Civil Service and agency managers in developing classification and compensation solutions.
Staffing Services Division
The Staffing Services Division is responsible for assisting State agencies with staffing the State workforce, which includes providing merit system guidance; planning, developing and implementing examinations; recruiting and placing personnel; and establishing, maintaining and certifying eligible lists. The Department is continuously working on updating strategies to improve communications with agencies and candidates, as well as simplifying the examination process.
Testing Services Division
The Testing Services Division is responsible for the development, scoring, and validation of State and local examinations as well as the administration of State examinations. The Department is focused on modernizing its approach to test delivery, enabling greater use of computerized testing and increasing efficiencies in the examination process. The exam system modernization initiative includes many projects and program enhancements including increased use of core competency testing to reduce reliance on customized examinations; weekday testing; and enhanced electronic communication.
Employee Health Service
The Employee Health Services Division provides medical examination services to determine the ability of pre-employment candidates and agency employees to safely perform the essential duties of a State job title and occupational health screenings to assist agencies in maintaining the health and safety of their employees throughout the State. The Department has implemented Lean principles to address increasing workload volumes and recently completed a project to assess procedures involving workflow in one of its medical clinics.
Employee Benefits Division
The Employee Benefits Division administers the New York State Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP), which covers over 1.2 million State and local government employees, retirees, and their families. In addition, the Division also manages several other benefit programs, including worker’s compensation, dental insurance, vision care benefits, short-term and long-term disability insurance, and life insurance.
Commission Operations and Municipal Assistance
The Commission Operations Division provides support services to the State Civil Service Commission. The Municipal Assistance Services Program provides oversight, advice, and examination assistance to 95 local civil service agencies as required by Civil Service Law.
Office of Diversity and Inclusion Management
The Office of Diversity and Inclusion Management is responsible for supporting all State agencies in developing a Statewide Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Plan, as well as a Framework and Implementation Plan to increase diversity in the workforce, and cultivate and promote an environment of workplace inclusion, pursuant to Executive Order No. 187. The Office assists State agencies with incorporating equal employment opportunity principles into their operational policies and practices, including the vital programs and services delivered to State employees and the public.
Budget Highlights
The FY 2026 Executive Budget recommends $132.3 million ($83.4 million in General Fund; $47.7 million in Internal Service Funds; and $1.2 million in Special Revenue Funds), an increase of $31.7 million from FY 2025. The increase includes continued support for several programs aimed at modernizing the State's civil service system. These initiatives include establishing a merit system helpdesk, expanding continuous recruitment to more titles, increasing accessibility to tests, creating avenues to engage with future State employees through direct contact and social media, and funding for technological advances to streamline the application process. Additional funding and FTEs have also been added within the Employee Benefits Division to combat insurance fraud, better ensure program compliance, and provide NYSHIP benefits at the most affordable level. The Executive Budget recommends a workforce of 582 FTEs for the agency, an 83 FTE increase.
For more information on this agency's budget recommendations located in the Executive Budget Briefing Book, click on the following link:
Briefing Book – General Government
| Category | Available FY 2025 |
Appropriations Recommended FY 2026 |
Change From FY 2025 |
Reappropriations Recommended FY 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Operations | 98,561,000 | 123,310,000 | 24,749,000 | 0 |
| Aid To Localities | 2,000,000 | 9,000,000 | 7,000,000 | 0 |
| Total | 100,561,000 | 132,310,000 | 31,749,000 | 0 |
| Program | FY 2025 Estimated FTEs 03/31/25 |
FY 2026 Estimated FTEs 03/31/26 |
FTE Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administration and Information Management | |||
| General Fund | 47 | 47 | 0 |
| Internal Service Funds | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| Commission Operations and Municipal Assistance | |||
| General Fund | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| Personnel Benefit Services | |||
| General Fund | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Internal Service Funds | 111 | 133 | 22 |
| Personnel Management Services | |||
| General Fund | 293 | 354 | 61 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Internal Service Funds | 17 | 17 | 0 |
| Total | 499 | 582 | 83 |
| Fund Type | Available FY 2025 |
Recommended FY 2026 |
Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Fund | 54,208,000 | 74,426,000 | 20,218,000 |
| Internal Service Funds | 43,162,000 | 47,693,000 | 4,531,000 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 1,191,000 | 1,191,000 | 0 |
| Total | 98,561,000 | 123,310,000 | 24,749,000 |
| Program | Available FY 2025 |
Recommended FY 2026 |
Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administration and Information Management | |||
| General Fund | 8,464,000 | 9,144,000 | 680,000 |
| Internal Service Funds | 3,447,000 | 3,447,000 | 0 |
| Commission Operations and Municipal Assistance | |||
| General Fund | 840,000 | 840,000 | 0 |
| Office of Diversity and Inclusion Management | |||
| General Fund | 4,562,000 | 4,596,000 | 34,000 |
| Personnel Benefit Services | |||
| General Fund | 1,770,000 | 1,770,000 | 0 |
| Internal Service Funds | 26,563,000 | 31,094,000 | 4,531,000 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 300,000 | 300,000 | 0 |
| Personnel Management Services | |||
| General Fund | 33,796,000 | 53,300,000 | 19,504,000 |
| Internal Service Funds | 13,152,000 | 13,152,000 | 0 |
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 891,000 | 891,000 | 0 |
| Test Evaluation and Validation | |||
| General Fund | 4,776,000 | 4,776,000 | 0 |
| Total | 98,561,000 | 123,310,000 | 24,749,000 |
| Program | Total | Personal Service Regular (Annual Salaried) |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | Amount | Change | |
| Administration and Information Management | 8,963,000 | 500,000 | 8,934,000 | 500,000 |
| Commission Operations and Municipal Assistance | 840,000 | 0 | 833,000 | 0 |
| Office of Diversity and Inclusion Management | 3,830,000 | 31,000 | 3,830,000 | 31,000 |
| Personnel Benefit Services | 1,770,000 | 0 | 1,632,000 | 0 |
| Personnel Management Services | 26,867,000 | 4,245,000 | 26,107,000 | 4,245,000 |
| Test Evaluation and Validation | 4,022,000 | 0 | 4,022,000 | 0 |
| Total | 46,292,000 | 4,776,000 | 45,358,000 | 4,776,000 |
| Program | Temporary Service (Nonannual Salaried) |
Holiday/Overtime Pay | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | Amount | Change | |
| Administration and Information Management | 0 | 0 | 29,000 | 0 |
| Commission Operations and Municipal Assistance | 0 | 0 | 7,000 | 0 |
| Personnel Benefit Services | 123,000 | 0 | 15,000 | 0 |
| Personnel Management Services | 723,000 | 0 | 37,000 | 0 |
| Total | 846,000 | 0 | 88,000 | 0 |
| Program | Total | Supplies and Materials | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | Amount | Change | |
| Administration and Information Management | 181,000 | 180,000 | 26,000 | 25,000 |
| Office of Diversity and Inclusion Management | 766,000 | 3,000 | 96,000 | 1,000 |
| Personnel Management Services | 26,433,000 | 15,259,000 | 6,305,000 | 2,067,000 |
| Test Evaluation and Validation | 754,000 | 0 | 53,000 | 0 |
| Total | 28,134,000 | 15,442,000 | 6,480,000 | 2,093,000 |
| Program | Travel | Contractual Services | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | Amount | Change | |
| Administration and Information Management | 75,000 | 75,000 | 80,000 | 80,000 |
| Office of Diversity and Inclusion Management | 361,000 | 1,000 | 280,000 | 280,000 |
| Personnel Management Services | 300,000 | 300,000 | 19,653,000 | 12,717,000 |
| Test Evaluation and Validation | 0 | 0 | 701,000 | 0 |
| Total | 736,000 | 376,000 | 20,714,000 | 13,077,000 |
| Program | Equipment | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | |
| Office of Diversity and Inclusion Management | 29,000 | (279,000) |
| Personnel Management Services | 175,000 | 175,000 |
| Total | 204,000 | (104,000) |
| Program | Total | Personal Service | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | Amount | Change | |
| Administration and Information Management | 3,447,000 | 0 | 1,942,000 | 0 |
| Personnel Benefit Services | 31,394,000 | 4,531,000 | 13,154,000 | 2,198,000 |
| Personnel Management Services | 14,043,000 | 0 | 5,331,000 | 0 |
| Total | 48,884,000 | 4,531,000 | 20,427,000 | 2,198,000 |
| Program | Nonpersonal Service | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount | Change | |
| Administration and Information Management | 1,505,000 | 0 |
| Personnel Benefit Services | 18,240,000 | 2,333,000 |
| Personnel Management Services | 8,712,000 | 0 |
| Total | 28,457,000 | 2,333,000 |
| Fund Type | Available FY 2025 |
Recommended FY 2026 |
Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Fund | 2,000,000 | 9,000,000 | 7,000,000 |
| Total | 2,000,000 | 9,000,000 | 7,000,000 |
| Program | Available FY 2025 |
Recommended FY 2026 |
Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administration and Information Management | |||
| General Fund | 2,000,000 | 9,000,000 | 7,000,000 |
| Total | 2,000,000 | 9,000,000 | 7,000,000 |
Note: Most recent estimates as of 01/21/2025