Human Rights, Division of

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 Human Rights Law 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 New York City and from seven regional offices in Albany, Brooklyn, Buffalo, Hempstead, Manhattan, Rochester and White Plains, and three satellite offices in Binghamton, Hauppauge, and Syracuse.

Budget Highlights

The FY 2018 Executive Budget recommends $18 million and a workforce of 164 FTEs, unchanged from FY 2017.

Major budget actions include:

Extending anti-discrimination protections to public schools. The FY 2018 Budget includes legislation amending the Human Rights Law to ensure that protections that currently shield members of protected groups from discrimination, harassment, and bullying in private schools also include public schools.

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

Briefing Book – Human Services (PDF)

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 2017	Appropriations Recommended FY 2018	Change From FY 2017	Reappropriations Recommended FY 2018
State Operations	18,296,000	18,153,000	(143,000)	10,718,000
Total	18,296,000	18,153,000	(143,000)	10,718,000

ALL FUND TYPES
PROJECTED LEVELS OF EMPLOYMENT BY PROGRAM
FILLED ANNUAL SALARIED POSITIONS
Program	FY 2017 Estimated FTEs 03/31/17	FY 2018 Estimated FTEs 03/31/18	FTE Change
Administration
General Fund	124	124	0
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	40	40	0
Total	164	164	0

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY FUND TYPE
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Fund Type	Available FY 2017	Recommended FY 2018	Change
General Fund	12,260,000	12,135,000	(125,000)
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	6,036,000	6,018,000	(18,000)
Total	18,296,000	18,153,000	(143,000)
Adjustments:
Transfer(s) From
Special Pay Bill
General Fund	(286,000)
Appropriated FY 2017	18,010,000

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Program	Available FY 2017	Recommended FY 2018	Change
Administration
General Fund	12,260,000	12,135,000	(125,000)
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	6,036,000	6,018,000	(18,000)
Total	18,296,000	18,153,000	(143,000)

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF PERSONAL SERVICE APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2018 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program	Total		Personal Service Regular (Annual Salaried)
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Administration	9,729,000	(125,000)	9,420,000	(125,000)
Total	9,729,000	(125,000)	9,420,000	(125,000)

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF PERSONAL SERVICE APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2018 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program	Temporary Service (Nonannual Salaried)		Holiday/Overtime Pay
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Administration	292,000	0	17,000	0
Total	292,000	0	17,000	0

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2018 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program	Total		Supplies and Materials
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Administration	2,406,000	0	136,000	0
Total	2,406,000	0	136,000	0

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2018 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program	Travel		Contractual Services
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Administration	110,000	0	2,046,000	0
Total	110,000	0	2,046,000	0

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2018 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program	Equipment
Program	Amount	Change
Administration	114,000	0
Total	114,000	0

STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2018 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program	Total		Personal Service
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Administration	6,018,000	(18,000)	2,749,000	(18,000)
Total	6,018,000	(18,000)	2,749,000	(18,000)

STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2018 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program	Nonpersonal Service
Program	Amount	Change
Administration	3,269,000	0
Total	3,269,000	0

Note: Most recent estimates as of 1/17/2017

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