N.Y. SCC Law § 171

§ 171. Powers and duties of commissioner. The commissioner of\ncharities shall have the general care, management, administration and\nsupervision of the charities, almshouses, hospitals, houses of\ncorrection, orphan asylums and all other similar institutions, the\ncontrol or government of which belongs or is intrusted to the city. He\nshall make regulations for the expenditure of the moneys appropriated\nfor the support or relief of the poor and for the general supervision of\nsuch expenditures. He shall investigate fully the circumstances of all\npersons alleged to be destitute or without proper means of support, or\nwithout proper guardianship, or who are in danger of becoming or are a\npublic burden in any respect; and also the circumstances of their\nrelatives or other persons whose duty it is to relieve or maintain them\nor contribute to their support; also to institute and prosecute any and\nall actions and proceedings authorized by law to compel any and all\npersons liable for the care, maintenance, education or support of any\nsuch destitute or dependent persons to contribute thereto, and to\nindemnify the city and public against any expenditures on account\nthereof. He shall also prosecute any and all bonds, undertakings or\nrecognizances given for any of the purposes herein mentioned or in any\nmanner relating thereto. Any and all moneys recovered in any such suit,\naction or proceeding or otherwise paid to or received by the said\ncommissioner on account of the care, maintenance, relief, education or\nsupport of any such persons shall be deposited by the commissioner with\nthe city treasurer as a trust fund, and the same shall be applied and\nexpended by the said commissioner for the purpose on account of which\nthe same were paid. Any surplus remaining in said fund at the close of\nthe fiscal year shall be treated as an unexpended balance of money\nappropriated for such department. The commissioner shall furnish to and\nfile with the comptroller a monthly statement in detail of all receipts\nand expenditures, including the aid and relief granted by him, with the\nnames and addresses of all recipients.\n