* 1999-00 through 2001-02 reflect enacted appropriations.
* 2002-03 and 2003-04 reflect Executive recommended appropriations.

The Department of Labor is the lead agency for workforce development and workplace issues. It is charged with the responsibility of administering State and Federal employment and training programs. The agency is also responsible for the administration of the Unemployment Insurance Benefit Fund as well as the enforcement of regulations that ensure the safety of workers in the workplace. There are six major programs in the Department: Employment and Training, Employment Relations Board, Labor Standards, Occupational Safety and Health, Unemployment Insurance Benefit, and Administration. The Department's central office is located in Albany and Employment Service offices are operational throughout the State.

The agency is included in the Education, Labor, and Family Assistance appropriation bill.

On an All Funds basis, the Executive recommends appropriations totaling $5,850,282,000 which reflects an increase of $40,537,250 or 0.7 percent from the State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2002-03 funding level.

State Operations

The Executive recommends All Funds State Operations appropriations of $5,502,362,000, a $89,701,000 or 1.66 ercent increase from the SFY 2002-03 funding level.

The Executive recommends the transfer of $17,408,000 and177 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) positions from the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) to the Department of Labor (DOL) for the purpose of transferring components of the Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped (CBVH) Program from OCFS to DOL. The program provides services to help visually handicapped people live independently and achieve self-sufficiency through employment. DOL will administer CBVH's Business Enterprise Program, which develops jobs, and its Independent Living Centers that provide employment readiness services through work experience and mentoring.

The Executive proposes transferring $41,692,000 and 804 FTE from the Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities Program (VESID) in the State Education Department to DOL to provide job training, counseling and placement services for disabled persons.

The Executive proposes Federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) appropriations of $38,653,000 to support programs including the Youth Education, Employment and Training Program (YEETP), the Green Teams Program, Displaced Homemakers and the Bridge/EDGE Program.

The Executive does not provide TANF funding for the Summer Youth Employment Program.

Aid To Localities

The Executive recommends All Funds appropriations of $347,920,000, a decrease of $49,163,750 or 12.4 percent from SFY 2002-03 levels. The decrease reflects a year to year adjustment in Federal Workforce Investment Act (WIA) funding attributable to a one-time increase in the SFY 2002-03 appropriation.

Article VII

The Executive recommends legislation to merge the Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities Program and portions of the Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped and the Equipment Loan Fund for the Disabled of the Office of Children and Family Services into the Department of Labor.