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

The Division of State Police (DSP) is responsible for protecting life and property through patrolling the State's highways and performing special investigative police services throughout the State. The Division of State Police is involved in several initiatives designed to counter terrorist activities.

The Executive proposes an All Funds appropriation of $492,884,000, a $38,004,000 or 8.4 percent increase from State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2002-03 spending levels.

This agency's budget is contained in the Public Protection and General Government bill.

State Operations

The Executive proposes an All Funds State Operations appropriation of $490,804,000, a $39,804,000 increase over SFY 2002-03. The increased spending is attributable to:

• a $24,100,000 binding arbitration adjustment ordered in December 2002;

• a $12,891,000 increase to reflect contractual salary adjustments and increases in other fixed costs, including DNA testing consumables, gas and aviation training;

• the transfer of Cigarette Tax Enforcement Operations to the Division, requiring an increase of $3,324,000; and

• a $1,600,000 General Fund match for a new Federal COPS grant, allowing for an additional 55 resource officers in schools designated by the Superintendent of State Police.

The Executive proposes the following initiatives that would reduce the level of State spending:

• A $5,000,000 reduction in costs associated with overtime; and

• An increase in the motor vehicle insurance fee (see Article VII). The fee increase is expected to generate an additional $42,700,000 during SFY 2003-2004. These funds will be deposited in the State Police Motor Vehicle Law Enforcement Account to support public safety efforts.

Capital Projects

The Executive proposes a capital appropriation of $2,800,000, a decrease of $1,800,000 from SFY 2002-03, for the maintenance and improvement of existing facilities.

Article VII

The Executive proposes legislation that would:

• permit grand jury testimony by State and local police officers to be provided by affidavit, rather than requiring personal appearance;

• permit a universal standard of "aggregate weight" rather than "pure weight" in defining quantities of controlled substances for various levels of drug offenses;

• increase from $1 to $5 the Motor Vehicle Insurance fee; and

• extend the authorization for the New York Motor Vehicle Theft and Insurance Fraud Prevention Demonstration Program and amend the submission date of a DSP reporting requirement.