2002 Yellow Book |
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DIVISION OF HUMAN RIGHTS |
Adjusted Executive Appropriation Request Percent 2001-02 2002-03 Change Change AGENCY SUMMARY General Fund 12,561,000 13,334,000 773,000 6.15% Special Rev.-Fed. 2,900,000 4,800,000 1,900,000 65.52% Special Rev.-Other 70,000 70,000 0 0.00% Fiduciary 20,000 20,000 0 0.00% Total for AGENCY SUMMARY: 15,551,000 18,224,000 2,673,000 17.19% STATE OPERATIONS General Fund 12,561,000 13,334,000 773,000 6.15% Special Rev.-Fed. 2,900,000 4,800,000 1,900,000 65.52% Special Rev.-Other 70,000 70,000 0 0.00% Fiduciary 20,000 20,000 0 0.00% Total for STATE OPERATIONS: 15,551,000 18,224,000 2,673,000 17.19% Administration General Fund 5,477,000 5,609,000 132,000 2.41% Special Rev.-Other 70,000 70,000 0 0.00% Fiduciary 20,000 20,000 0 0.00% Total for Program: 5,567,000 5,699,000 132,000 2.37% Legal Enforcement General Fund 1,411,000 2,064,000 653,000 46.28% Total for Program: 1,411,000 2,064,000 653,000 46.28% Regional Affairs General Fund 5,673,000 5,661,000 (12,000) -0.21% Special Rev.-Fed. 2,900,000 4,800,000 1,900,000 65.52% Total for Program: 8,573,000 10,461,000 1,888,000 22.02% ALL FUNDS PERSONNEL BUDGETED FILL LEVELS Current Requested Program 2001-02 2002-03 Change Administration 45 45 0 Legal Enforcement 26 26 0 Regional Affairs 126 126 0 Total General Fund : 164 164 0 Total All Other Funds : 33 33 0 TOTAL: 197 197 0 BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS (Executive Budget: pp. 135-137) The Division of Human Rights is the State agency responsible for the administration and enforcement of the New York State Human Rights Law. This law prohibits discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodation and other areas on account of race, creed, color, age, national origin, sex, disability, marital status, previous arrest or conviction (in employment), familial status (in housing) and other specified classes. The Division accomplishes this mission through: the investigation and resolution of discrimination complaints; the promotion of human rights awareness through education, conciliation and other measures; and the development and articulation of human rights through outreach to community groups. The Division's main office is located in New York City. The agency also operates from nine regional offices located in Albany, Binghamton, Brooklyn, Buffalo, Long Island, Lower Manhattan, Upper Manhattan, Rochester and White Plains and two satellite offices on Long Island and in Syracuse. This agency is included in the Health, Mental Hygiene and Environmental Conservation appropriation bill. State Operations In State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2002-03, the Executive recommends an All Funds appropriation of $18,224,000 for the Division, a net increase of $2,673,000, or 17.2 percent, above the current fiscal year. The major portion of this increase results from an increase of $1,900,000 in Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant levels. A smaller portion of the proposed SFY 2002-03 increase reflects restoration of $353,000 for nonpersonal services related to the SFY 2001-02 Backlog Reduction Initiative. This increase is partially offset by savings of $120,000 achieved as a result of eliminating three of the nine positions associated with the Backlog Reduction Initiative in the current fiscal year. The balance of the increase relates to adjustments of $367,000 for general salary increases and miscellaneous actions of $173,000, including adjustments for nonpersonal service inflation. The Division continues to be involved in ongoing litigation, NOW v. Pataki, in which the plaintiff has alleged that the time needed to process individual complaints due to the extensive caseload backlog fails to provide petitioners with adequate protection of their human rights. In the most recent judgment, the Court ruled in favor of the Executive finding no "due process" violations. NOW is appealing the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court. In the interim, the Division's records indicate that the backlog that once stood at 16,000 cases six years ago has fallen to 9,383 cases as of December 31, 2001. |
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