Labor, Department of
skip breadcrumbs| All amounts are in dollars |
| Category | Available 2007-08 |
Appropriations Recommended 2008-09 |
Change From 2007-08 |
Reappropriations Recommended 2008-09 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Operations | 3,853,366,000 | 3,561,441,000 | -291,925,000 | 628,287,000 |
| Aid To Localities | 259,519,750 | 252,427,000 | -7,092,750 | 475,709,500 |
| Total | 4,112,885,750 | 3,813,868,000 | -299,017,750 | 1,103,996,500 |
| Full-Time Equivalent Positions (FTE) |
| Program | 2007-08 Estimated FTEs 03/31/08 |
2008-09 Estimated FTEs 03/31/09 |
FTE Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administration | |||
| Special Revenue Funds - Federal | 2,996 | 2,996 | 0 |
| Employment Relations Board | |||
| General Fund | 16 | 12 | -4 |
| Employment and Training | |||
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 74 | 69 | -5 |
| Labor Standards | |||
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 279 | 282 | 3 |
| Occupational Safety and Health | |||
| Special Revenue Funds - Other | 282 | 284 | 2 |
| Total | 3,647 | 3,643 | -4 |
Note: Most recent estimates as of 01/22/08.
Mission
The Department of Labor (DOL) administers New York's Unemployment Insurance system, labor exchange system and State worker protection programs, including enforcement of safety and health regulations in the public sector, State labor laws and Federal statutes related to working conditions, wages and hours and laws related to public work. The Department is a primary advocate for job creation and economic growth through workforce development, and serves as the State's principal source for labor market information, offering a variety of services designed to help businesses find workers and people find jobs.
Budget Highlights
The Executive Budget recommends $3.8 billion All Funds ($1.5 million General Fund, $3.8 billion Other Funds, including $3.0 billion Enterprise Fund) for the Department of Labor. This is a decrease of $299 million All Funds ($0.2 million General Fund, $299 million Other Funds, including $250 million Enterprise Fund) from the 2007-08 Budget. This change reflects the shift of disaster administration responsibility out of the Department, updated projections in Unemployment Insurance benefits, general inflationary increases, and other adjustments.
The Executive Budget recommends a staffing level of 3,643 positions in 2008-09, a decrease of 4 from the 2007-08 Budget, reflecting the conversion of State Employment Relations Board Members to per diem employees. Approximately 82 percent of the Department's positions are financed by Federal grants and 18 percent are supported by fees and assessments. Less than one percent of the Department's positions are supported by State tax dollars from the General Fund.
Major budget actions include:
- Joint Enforcement Task Force: In 2008-09 DOL will continue its aggressive implementation of Executive Order No. 17, which established the Joint Enforcement Task Force on Employee Misclassification. DOL staff will focus on employers who intentionally misclassify workers as independent contractors instead of as employees, or pay them “off the books” to avoid the costs of unemployment insurance, workers' compensation, social security, State and Federal withholding, temporary disability insurance, minimum wage, and overtime.
- Public Work Enforcement: In 2008-09 the Department, using available resources, will strengthen enforcement of the State's public work law, including payment of prevailing wages, use of apprentices, and work in excess of eight hours per day/five days per week.
- Disaster Relief Program: The 2008-09 Budget reflects the transfer of responsibility for administering Federal disaster relief grants and loans from DOL to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
- Unemployment Insurance Systems Modernization: Existing fees and assessments received by DOL will support the Department's Unemployment Insurance computer systems modernization efforts. Appropriations totaling $17.8 million are recommended for this project, a decrease of $5 million from the 2007-08 Budget.
- State Employment Relations Board (SERB): The Budget recommends that a $750 fee be charged to each party, labor and management, involved in an arbitration performed by a SERB staff person. Additionally, the Budget recommends that SERB Board members be paid a per diem rate for their services rather than an annual salary. Together, these actions will result in General Fund savings of $339,000. SERB is the only Department of Labor program supported by the General Fund.
2008-09 Executive Budget — Agency Presentation
Labor, Department of (PDF)