Budget & Taxes (Audits & Accountability)

in committee · New York · Senate Mar 26, 2026

S 9590: Allowing certain payments from the IOLA fund to be made without appropriation by law

This bill modifies New York State law to allow payments from the Interest on Lawyer Account (IOLA) fund to be made without requiring a separate appropriation by law. The IOLA fund is a state-managed account that holds interest earned on client funds deposited in interest-bearing accounts, which is then used for legal aid services. Under the new provision, the State Comptroller can release money from this fund based on certification and authorization from the fund's board of trustees, streamlining the payment process for legal aid recipients. This change affects how legal aid organizations receive funding, allowing for more flexible disbursement of IOLA monies without waiting for annual budget approval.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill streamlines funding for legal aid services by allowing IOLA fund payments without separate appropriation, supporting government fiscal management and public service funding.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Audits & Accountability

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Mar 17, 2026

S 9485: Relates to the establishment of the small business child & dependent care savings program

This bill creates a new savings program specifically for employees of small businesses in New York state to help them save money for child and dependent care. It affects employers with one to one hundred employees who have been in business for at least two years and do not currently offer a child and dependent care savings plan. The program allows employees to contribute a portion of their wages through payroll deductions, with contributions managed by the state's comptroller and labor commissioner. Employers would establish payroll systems to collect these contributions, and employees could choose their contribution amounts or opt out of the program. The bill also outlines rules for enrollment periods, contribution limits, and how employees can withdraw their savings under certain circumstances.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates a savings program for small businesses, promoting fiscal responsibility and employee benefits without increasing taxes or cutting public services.70% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill establishes savings program for small business employees to help with child and dependent care, expanding worker benefits and supporting workforce stability.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability Tags Small Business

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Mar 2, 2026

A 10367: Creates a volunteer firefighter training fund; appropriation

This bill establishes a new Volunteer Firefighter Training Fund to support training programs for volunteer firefighters. The fund will be managed by the state comptroller and commissioner of taxation and finance, with money drawn from the state's general fund. An initial appropriation of one million dollars is provided, and local fire department chiefs can apply for these funds to pay for volunteer firefighter training. The legislation creates a formal mechanism for funding training without changing existing training requirements or eligibility rules.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes new funding mechanism for volunteer firefighter training, increasing state investment in public safety services through general fund appropriation.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Audits & Accountability State Budget

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Mar 6, 2026

S 9386: Requires audits by the comptroller in the event of arrest or conviction of contractors

This bill requires the state comptroller to conduct audits of public works projects when contractors are convicted of specific crimes related to theft, fraud, wage theft, or labor violations. It directly affects contractors, subcontractors, and affiliated companies working on state-funded projects. The law mandates that audits cover all existing public works projects started by the contractor that received state funds after a conviction or legal determination. The bill defines contractors broadly to include subcontractors and affiliated entities to ensure comprehensive oversight.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill promotes fiscal responsibility by requiring audits of public works projects when contractors commit fraud or theft, protecting taxpayer funds and ensuring proper use of state appropriations.75% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens accountability by requiring audits when contractors are convicted of crimes, promoting justice and preventing fraud in public works.75% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill mandates audits for contractors convicted of wage theft and labor violations, directly protecting workers' rights and enforcing labor standards on public works projects.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability Procurement Labor Standards

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly Mar 6, 2026

A 10493: Enacts the "SEEK program protection and accountability act of 2026" which strengthens legislative oversight, fiscal transparency, and equitable administration of the SEEK program at CUNY

Enacts the "Percy Ellis Sutton search for education, elevation and knowledge program protection and accountability act" establishing funding allocation and transparency requirements, audit requirements, and reporting requirements for the Percy Ellis Sutton search for education, elevation and knowledge program at the city university of New York.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill strengthens fiscal transparency, audit requirements, and funding allocation oversight for a public education program, promoting fiscal responsibility and accountability.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill strengthens oversight and funding transparency for SEEK program at CUNY, enhancing educational access and accountability.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Audits & Accountability Higher Education

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Feb 4, 2026

S 9116: Establishes an instant lottery scratch-off game to fund scholarships for veterans

This bill creates a new instant lottery scratch-off game called the "veterans' benefit game," with all proceeds funding scholarships for veterans through New York's Veterans Tuition Awards Program. The lottery tickets must clearly state that profits support veterans, and the generated funds will be placed into a dedicated "Veterans' Education and Scholarship Fund" managed by the state education department and comptroller. The fund will provide scholarship money directly to the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation to administer the veteran tuition program. This establishes a permanent funding source for veteran education benefits through state lottery revenue.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates new lottery revenue stream to fund veterans' scholarships, directly increasing state education budget allocation for a specific program.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds veterans' education scholarships via dedicated state fund, directly supporting higher education access and expanding educational opportunity for veterans.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill creates lottery to fund veterans' scholarships via dedicated education fund, directly advancing benefits through new revenue stream for existing program.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability Higher Education Student Financial Aid Veteran Benefits Veteran Education Veteran Healthcare

Track

in committee · New York · Assembly May 18, 2026

A 10145: Directs the chief administrator of the courts to develop and implement a random audit compliance program to conduct periodic financial audits of law firms; and provides for funding of the program

Directs the chief administrator of the courts to develop and implement a random audit compliance program to conduct periodic financial audits of law firms that engage in the private practice and create and manage escrow trust accounts in the state in order to ensure proper handling of IOLTA accounts; provides for the funding of the random audit compliance program.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly provides funding for a court audit program to ensure proper handling of IOLTA accounts, aligning with fiscal responsibility and government spending oversight.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Jun 2, 2026

S 9181: Provides for the sale of municipal obligations by the county of Erie

This bill (S 9181) extends a specific rule allowing Erie County to sell its bonds privately. It permits the county to market serial bonds or notes issued before June 30, 2026, without being restricted by usual limits on private bond sales, provided the state comptroller approves the sale terms. The change directly affects Erie County's ability to finance projects through these bond sales. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEnables Erie County to finance projects via private bond sales without usual limits, promoting fiscal flexibility for county budget management.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Apr 21, 2026

S 9308: Authorizes a distinctive "North Country Honor Flight" license plate; establishes the North Country Honor Flight fund

This bill authorizes a special "North Country Honor Flight" license plate for vehicles in the state, requiring an additional $25 annual fee on top of regular registration. The fee structure directs the first $6,000 collected each year to the state's distinctive plate development fund, with any excess funds deposited into the "North Country Honor Flight fund." This fund, managed by the state's finance and comptroller offices, will be used exclusively to support the North Country Honor Flight organization, which arranges free trips for veterans to visit war memorials. The bill creates a sustainable funding mechanism for the veterans' program through license plate sales, without requiring upfront state appropriations.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates $25 annual license plate fee with funds directed to Honor Flight fund, advancing fiscal management for a specific program through new revenue allocation.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill creates dedicated fund via license plate fees to support Honor Flight, which provides veteran memorial trips. Directly funds veteran service organization.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability

Track

in committee · New York · Senate Mar 9, 2026

S 9167: Requires the comptroller review and approve certain contracts

This bill requires the state financial officer (comptroller) to review and approve all contracts entered by state agencies above a minimum value set by the legislature. It directly affects state departments, boards, and institutions that enter contracts, mandating pre-execution approval for contracts exceeding the legislated threshold. The legislature sets this minimum value through a joint resolution, and the governor may temporarily suspend the requirement during declared disaster emergencies. The comptroller’s role in contract review is added to their constitutional duties under this proposed amendment.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill enhances fiscal oversight by requiring comptroller approval for large contracts, promoting fiscal responsibility in state spending management.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability Procurement

Track