N.Y. Court of Claims Act § 20-a: Settlement of claims

§ 20-a. Settlement of claims. Notwithstanding any inconsistent

provision of this act or of the state finance law, the comptroller shall

examine, audit, and certify for payment the settlement of any claim

filed in the court of claims for injuries to personal property, real

property, or for personal injuries caused by the tort of an officer or

employee of the state while acting as such officer or employee, provided

that a stipulation of settlement executed by the parties shall have been

approved by order of the court. No such stipulation shall be executed on

behalf of the state without, after consultation with the director of the

budget, the approval of the head of the department or agency having

supervision of the officer or employee alleged to have caused the

injuries and of the attorney general. The attorney general shall cause a

review to be made within the department of law of all cases filed in the

court of claims to determine which cases are appropriate for possible

settlement. Payment of any claim made pursuant to the approval of a

settlement by the court shall be made from the funds appropriated for

the purpose of payment of judgments against the state pursuant to

section twenty of this act. In any case where payment is to be made to

an incarcerated individual serving a sentence of imprisonment with the

state department of corrections and community supervision or to a

prisoner confined at a local correctional facility, the procedures set

forth in subdivision six-a of section twenty of this article shall be

followed. On or before January fifteenth the comptroller, in

consultation with the department of law and other agencies as may be

appropriate, shall submit to the governor and the legislature an annual

accounting of settlements paid pursuant to this section during the

preceding and current fiscal years. Such accounting shall include, but

not be limited to the number, type and amount of claims so paid, as well

as an estimate of claims to be paid during the remainder of the current

fiscal year and during the following fiscal year.