State, Department of

Agency Web Site: https://www.dos.ny.gov/

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; supports businesses through various licensing and registration activities; and assists new Americans through community-based support centers.

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 2025 Executive Budget recommends $683.2 million for the Department, an increase of $102.3 million from the adjusted FY 2024 Budget.

The Executive Budget recommends a workforce of 602 FTEs for the Department, a net decrease of 20 FTE's from FY 2024. This reflects a decrease of 50 FTEs for the transfer of the Office of Renewable Energy Siting to the Department of Public Service and an increase of 30 FTEs to support the new Office of Faith and Non-Profit Development Services and other functions and responsibilities added to the Department in 2023.

Major budget actions include:

$200 million in capital funding for another round of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) and a third round of NY Forward
$44.2 million in continued funding to support the responsibilities and activities of Office for New Americans, which include providing immigrants arriving to NYS with free legal services, mental health support, workforce development, and English language learning, including a $1.2 million for ONA Opportunity Centers - ESOL, which combine English language training with workforce development skills.
$5 million for the new Office of Faith and Non-Profit Development Services -- $1.5 million to staff and equip the office and $3.5 million for local assistance grants.
$15 million for the New York State Commission on African American History. This includes $5 million for a local assistance grant program and $10 million for a capital grant program to support recommendations of the commission. Operating resources for the commission are also accommodated in the DOS budget.
$5 million for the New York Statewide Investment in More Swimming (SWIMS) initiative to provide additional resources to support more lifeguards and swimming instruction throughout the State.
$150 million for anticipated additional Federal coastal zone management funding for state operations ($65 million) and local assistance ($85 million).
Legislation to prohibit the re-use of Lithium Ion batteries.
Legislation to enhance consumer protections for all New Yorkers.

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 2024	Appropriations Recommended FY 2025	Change From FY 2024	Reappropriations Recommended FY 2025
State Operations	141,263,699	192,268,000	51,004,301	128,015,920
Aid To Localities	237,599,000	278,900,000	41,301,000	456,475,751
Capital Projects	202,000,000	212,000,000	10,000,000	833,142,000
Total	580,862,699	683,168,000	102,305,301	1,417,633,671

ALL FUND TYPES
PROJECTED LEVELS OF EMPLOYMENT BY PROGRAM
FILLED ANNUAL SALARIED POSITIONS
Program	FY 2024 Estimated FTEs 03/31/24	FY 2025 Estimated FTEs 03/31/25	FTE Change
Administration
General Fund	65	75	10
Authorities Budget Office
Special Revenue Funds - Other	20	20	0
Code Enforcement
Special Revenue Funds - Other	12	12	0
Consumer Protection Program
General Fund	5	5	0
Special Revenue Funds - Other	30	30	0
Business and Licensing Services
Special Revenue Funds - Other	237	207	(30)
Local Government and Community Services
General Fund	133	133	0
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	11	11	0
Special Revenue Funds - Other	81	81	0
Office for New Americans
General Fund	10	10	0
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	3	3	0
Tug Hill Commission
General Fund	15	15	0
Total	622	602	(20)

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY FUND TYPE
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Fund Type	Available FY 2024	Recommended FY 2025	Change
General Fund	20,500,544	24,300,000	3,799,456
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	15,052,000	80,052,000	65,000,000
Special Revenue Funds - Other	105,711,155	87,916,000	(17,795,155)
Total	141,263,699	192,268,000	51,004,301
Adjustments:
Transfer(s) From
Special Pay Bill
General Fund	(1,189,699)
Appropriated FY 2024	140,074,000

STATE OPERATIONS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Program	Available FY 2024	Recommended FY 2025	Change
Administration
General Fund	9,021,544	8,551,000	(470,544)
Authorities Budget Office
Special Revenue Funds - Other	3,359,000	3,407,000	48,000
Business and Licensing Services
Special Revenue Funds - Other	69,626,155	75,998,000	6,371,845
Code Enforcement
Special Revenue Funds - Other	2,327,000	4,009,000	1,682,000
Consumer Protection Program
General Fund	1,700,000	1,751,000	51,000
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	51,000	51,000	0
Special Revenue Funds - Other	30,195,000	4,298,000	(25,897,000)
Local Government and Community Services
General Fund	5,956,000	6,134,000	178,000
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	15,001,000	80,001,000	65,000,000
Special Revenue Funds - Other	154,000	154,000	0
NEW YORK STATE ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMISSION
General Fund	0	1,418,000	1,418,000
NEW YORK STATE COMMISSION ON AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY
General Fund	0	1,046,000	1,046,000
OFFICE OF FAITH AND NON-PROFIT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
General Fund	0	1,500,000	1,500,000
Office for New Americans
General Fund	2,500,000	2,545,000	45,000
State of NY Commission on Uniform State Laws
General Fund	155,000	155,000	0
Tug Hill Commission
General Fund	1,168,000	1,200,000	32,000
Special Revenue Funds - Other	50,000	50,000	0
Total	141,263,699	192,268,000	51,004,301

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF PERSONAL SERVICE APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2025 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program	Total		Personal Service Regular (Annual Salaried)
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Administration	3,301,000	(470,544)	3,201,000	(470,544)
Consumer Protection Program	1,751,000	51,000	1,751,000	51,000
Local Government and Community Services	6,134,000	178,000	6,100,000	178,000
NEW YORK STATE ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMISSION	475,000	475,000	475,000	475,000
NEW YORK STATE COMMISSION ON AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY	526,000	526,000	526,000	526,000
OFFICE OF FAITH AND NON-PROFIT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES	1,000,000	1,000,000	1,000,000	1,000,000
Office for New Americans	1,545,000	45,000	1,545,000	45,000
Tug Hill Commission	1,092,000	32,000	1,092,000	32,000
Total	15,824,000	1,836,456	15,690,000	1,836,456

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF PERSONAL SERVICE APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2025 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program	Temporary Service (Nonannual Salaried)		Holiday/Overtime Pay
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Administration	90,000	0	10,000	0
Local Government and Community Services	30,000	0	4,000	0
Total	120,000	0	14,000	0

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2025 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program	Total		Supplies and Materials
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Administration	5,250,000	0	0	0
NEW YORK STATE ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMISSION	943,000	943,000	53,000	53,000
NEW YORK STATE COMMISSION ON AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY	520,000	520,000	50,000	50,000
OFFICE OF FAITH AND NON-PROFIT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES	500,000	500,000	100,000	100,000
Office for New Americans	1,000,000	0	0	0
State of NY Commission on Uniform State Laws	155,000	0	0	0
Tug Hill Commission	108,000	0	13,000	0
Total	8,476,000	1,963,000	216,000	203,000

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2025 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program	Travel		Contractual Services
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Administration	0	0	5,250,000	0
NEW YORK STATE ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMISSION	40,000	40,000	350,000	350,000
NEW YORK STATE COMMISSION ON AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY	20,000	20,000	350,000	350,000
OFFICE OF FAITH AND NON-PROFIT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES	50,000	50,000	250,000	250,000
Office for New Americans	0	0	1,000,000	0
State of NY Commission on Uniform State Laws	0	0	135,000	0
Tug Hill Commission	8,000	0	85,000	0
Total	118,000	110,000	7,420,000	950,000

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2025 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program	Equipment
Program	Amount	Change
NEW YORK STATE ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMISSION	500,000	500,000
NEW YORK STATE COMMISSION ON AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY	100,000	100,000
OFFICE OF FAITH AND NON-PROFIT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES	100,000	100,000
Tug Hill Commission	2,000	0
Total	702,000	700,000

STATE OPERATIONS - GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF NONPERSONAL SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE UNDISTRIBUTED
APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2025 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program	Maintenance Undistributed
Program	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 2025 RECOMMENDED
(dollars)
Program	Total		Personal Service
Program	Amount	Change	Amount	Change
Authorities Budget Office	3,407,000	48,000	1,639,000	48,000
Business and Licensing Services	75,998,000	6,371,845	27,794,000	1,706,255
Code Enforcement	4,009,000	1,682,000	1,423,000	458,000
Consumer Protection Program	4,349,000	(25,897,000)	1,796,000	(9,448,000)
Local Government and Community Services	80,155,000	65,000,000	11,809,000	2,000,000
Tug Hill Commission	50,000	0	0	0
Total	167,968,000	47,204,845	44,461,000	(5,235,745)

STATE OPERATIONS - OTHER THAN GENERAL FUND
SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS AND CHANGES
FY 2025 RECOMMENDED CONTINUED
(dollars)
Program	Nonpersonal Service
Program	Amount	Change
Authorities Budget Office	1,768,000	0
Business and Licensing Services	48,204,000	4,665,590
Code Enforcement	2,586,000	1,224,000
Consumer Protection Program	2,553,000	(16,449,000)
Local Government and Community Services	68,346,000	63,000,000
Tug Hill Commission	50,000	0
Total	123,507,000	52,440,590

AID TO LOCALITIES
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY FUND TYPE
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Fund Type	Available FY 2024	Recommended FY 2025	Change
General Fund	101,399,000	57,700,000	(43,699,000)
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	134,700,000	219,700,000	85,000,000
Special Revenue Funds - Other	1,500,000	1,500,000	0
Total	237,599,000	278,900,000	41,301,000

AID TO LOCALITIES
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Program	Available FY 2024	Recommended FY 2025	Change
Local Government and Community Services
General Fund	8,399,000	10,000,000	1,601,000
Special Revenue Funds - Federal	134,700,000	219,700,000	85,000,000
OFFICE OF FAITH AND NON-PROFIT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
General Fund	0	3,500,000	3,500,000
Office for New Americans
General Fund	93,000,000	44,200,000	(48,800,000)
Special Revenue Funds - Other	1,500,000	1,500,000	0
Total	237,599,000	278,900,000	41,301,000

CAPITAL PROJECTS
ALL FUNDS FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS BY PROGRAM
APPROPRIATIONS
(dollars)
Comprehensive Construction Program	Available FY 2024	Recommended FY 2025	Change	Reappropriations FY 2025
Downtown Revitalization
Capital Projects Fund - Authority Bonds	200,000,000	200,000,000	0	757,843,000
Infrastructure Investment – Settlement Funds	0	0	0	70,782,000
Maintenance and Repair
Capital Projects Fund	2,000,000	2,000,000	0	4,187,000
NYS Commission on African American History
Capital Projects Fund	0	10,000,000	10,000,000	0
Solid and Hazardous Waste Management
Hazardous Waste Remedial Fund	0	0	0	330,000
Total	202,000,000	212,000,000	10,000,000	833,142,000

Note: Most recent estimates as of 01/16/2024

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