N.Y. CVS Law § 145

§ 145. State commission to make merit awards; regulations. The state\ncivil service commission shall have power and it shall be its duty:\n (a) To formulate, establish and maintain a plan or plans to encourage\nand reward unusual and meritorious suggestions and accomplishments by\nstate employees and suggestions of retired state employees promoting\nefficiency and economy in the performance of any function of state\ngovernment;\n (b) To appoint departmental or divisional boards or committees, from\namong persons nominated therefor by the respective department or agency\nheads, which shall analyze and review suggestions and accomplishments of\nstate employees and suggestions of retired state employees submitted for\nconsideration under such plan or plans and make recommendations thereon\nto the commission;\n (c) To make and render merit awards to or for the benefit of state\nemployees and retired state employees nominated to receive them in\naccordance with such plan or plans;\n (d) To adopt and promulgate rules and regulations governing the\noperation of any plan or plans established under this article, the\neligibility and qualifications of state employees and retired state\nemployees participating therein, the character and quality of\nsuggestions and accomplishments submitted for consideration, the method\nof their submission and the procedure for their review, nominations for\nmerit awards, and the kind, character and value of such awards, and such\nother rules and regulations as may be deemed necessary or appropriate\nfor the proper administration of this article or for the accomplishment\nof the purposes thereof;\n (e) Upon the request of a public authority or other agency not in the\nstate service but under the jurisdiction of the civil service\ndepartment, to receive, pass upon and make awards for suggestions\nsubmitted by employees and retired employees of such authority or\nagency, provided such authority or agency agrees to abide by the\ndecisions of the commission and to pay the costs of all awards granted\nby the commission to its employees.\n