Department of Labor

Backward Forward Overview Table of Contents

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

                          Adjusted       Executive    Legislative                       
                           Approp.         Request        Approp.
                           2000-01         2001-02        2001-02     Change


STATE OPERATIONS
  General Fund          12,192,700      11,951,500     11,451,500   (500,000)
  Special Rev.-Fed.    636,277,500     554,873,900    554,873,900           0 
  Special Rev.-Other    50,019,300      52,450,000     53,450,000   1,000,000 
  Fiduciary          2,500,000,000   2,500,000,000  2,500,000,000           0 
  Total for 
  STATE OPERATIONS:  3,198,489,500   3,119,275,400  3,119,775,400     500,000 

AID TO LOCALITIES
  General Fund          12,505,700       4,690,700     14,460,700   9,770,000 
  Special Rev.-Fed.    341,352,000     336,628,200    336,628,200           0 
  Special Rev.-Other       245,000         245,000        245,000           0 
  Total for 
  AID TO LOCALITIES:   354,102,700     341,563,900    351,333,900   9,770,000

Agency Mission

The Department of Labor (DOL) provides a range of services related to both the labor force and the workplace. The Agency provides services to prepare individuals for jobs and links employers and job seekers through its labor exchange function. The Department also administers Federal job training programs and is the lead agency in the State for workforce preparation activity. The Agency is responsible for the implementation of the Federal Workforce Investment Act (WIA), the Welfare to Work (WTW) Block Grant, and job training and employment programs funded under the Federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act. DOL also administers the Federal Unemployment Insurance (UI) Program and enforces laws and regulations related to safety and health in the workplace, prevailing and minimum wages, and other mandated employment benefit programs.

Year-to-Year Change

The Executive proposes a State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2001-02 All Funds Aid to Localities appropriation of $341,563,900, a decrease of $12,538,800 or four percent from SFY 2000-01. Total appropriations for State Operations decreased $79,214,100, or 2.5 percent, due primarily to a decrease in Special Revenue Funds - Federal.

Legislative Changes

Empire State Advantage Program. $(500,000) ST/GEN

The Assembly rejects the Executive's proposal for the Empire State Advantage Program.

Legislative Proposals

Electronic Commerce Initiative

The Assembly does not accept the Executive proposal for an E-commerce initiative using funds from the Special Revenue Fund - Other Occupational Safety and Health Program Enforcement Fee and Penalty Account. The Assembly proposes that any funds in the account be used for the costs of program enforcement, including additional inspectors and costs associated with training of inspectors.

Welfare to Work (WTW) Block Grant

The Welfare to Work Block Grant reappropriations total $229,494,000 for grants received in Federal Fiscal Years (FFY) 1997-98 and 1998-99. Those funds are available for five years. The amount appropriated in SFY 1998-99, $139,229,000, must be obligated by October 2003, and the $90,165,000 appropriated in SFY 1999-00 must be obligated by October 2004. Most of the funds (85 percent) are allocated by formula to local workforce investment boards. Fifteen percent of the State allocation is set aside into a reserve by the Executive. The Assembly would reprogram the remaining funds in the reserve for employment and training related activities including Built on Pride, Wage Subsidy, Technology Training, Transportation, Adult and Family Literacy, Workplace Accommodation, Work Opportunities in Educational Settings, VESID, English as a Second Language (ESL), and a subsidized jobs program in the public and not-for-profit sectors.

Employment, Education, and Training Programs

The Assembly proposes to restore full funding to the Youth Employment, Education and Training Program (YEETP) through an additional appropriation of $1,000,000 from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant surplus. The Assembly proposes that $38,000,000 from the TANF Block Grant surplus be appropriated for a summer employment program for youth in families with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level. The Assembly also proposes an appropriation of $2,000,000 from the General Fund for a summer youth employment program. The Assembly proposes to restore funding for existing Jobs for Youth programs. The Assembly provides $1,000,000 for Technology Training for individuals with HIV and AIDS. The Assembly adds $200,000 for existing displaced homemaker programs.

Enforcement

The Assembly proposes an audit of the existing prevailing wage enforcement program to be conducted by the Office of the State Comptroller. The audit would include a review of the current utilization of inspectors, inspection procedures, training of inspectors, and a determination of the adequacy of funding for the program and the funding mechanism. The Assembly rejects the sweep of $1,000,000 from the Occupational Safety and Health Fee and Penalty Account to the General Fund.

Unemployment Insurance

The Assembly proposes to fund an advocacy skills development program for public interest and public service law students and lawyers to provide training for the representation of Unemployment Insurance claimants. The Assembly proposes to fund a pilot program for the provision of additional claims services to assist individuals in accessing Unemployment Insurance benefits, including individuals with disabilities.

The Assembly also provides funding for various other labor-related programs and initiatives.

OTHER PROGRAM FUNDING.
JOBS FOR YOUTH.
SUMMER YOUTH JOBS PROGRAM.
TECH TRAINING FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH HIV AND AIDS.
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH PROGRAM - DENY
SWEEP.
TRANSITION TO UI TELECLAIMING.
CUNY SCHOOL OF LAW - UI ADVOCACY.
DISPLACED HOMEMAKER PROGRAM. $4,000,000
$2,120,000
$2,000,000
$1,000,000

$1,000,000
$250,000
$200,000
$200,000 ATL/GEN
ATL/GEN
ATL/GEN
ATL/GEN

ST/SRO
ATL/GEN
ATL/GEN
ATL/GEN