N.Y. Judiciary Law § 33: Expense of certain criminal prosecutions to be borne by the state

§ 33. Expense of certain criminal prosecutions to be borne by the

state. The expenses of an investigation or prosecution in any county of

a matter or charge connected with, growing out of or relating to a

contract or contracts between the state, or any department, board,

commission or officer thereof, and any individual, firm or corporation,

if such prosecution or investigation shall have been ordered, directed,

or recommended by the governor, the legislature, a joint committee of

both houses of the legislature or a committee of either house, shall be

borne by the state. Such expenses shall be paid in the first instance by

the county, as the expenses of other criminal investigations or

prosecutions therein, but the county shall be reimbursed therefor out of

moneys appropriated for such purpose. Payments by the state under this

section shall be made from the treasury on the audit and warrant of the

comptroller to the order of the treasurer of the proper county, upon his

certified statement of the items of expenses paid by the county on

account of such investigations or prosecutions, accompanied by the

written approval of the attorney-general thereon. Such payments may be

made at any time during the pendency of any such investigation or

prosecution, for expenses accrued and paid by the county to the date of

the account, but not oftener than once in three months.