N.Y. SOS Law § 110-A

§ 110-a. Special provisions for legal services to enforce support to\nrecover costs of public assistance and care and to establish paternity.\n1. Any inconsistent provision of law notwithstanding, the appropriating\nbody of a social services district may authorize and make provision for\nthe social services commissioner of such district to obtain: (a)\nnecessary legal services on a fee for service basis or other appropriate\nbasis which the department may approve, to obtain support from spouses\nand parents, to recover costs of public assistance and care granted, to\nestablish paternity, and to initiate and prosecute proceedings for the\ncommitment of the guardianship and custody of destitute or dependent\nchildren to authorized agencies, pursuant to the provisions of this\nchapter and the domestic relations law, the family court act and other\nlaws, and (b) necessary services of private investigators, licensed\npursuant to section seventy of the general business law, on a fee for\nservice or other appropriate basis which the department may approve, to\nprovide investigative assistance in efforts of the district to locate\nabsent parents and fathers of children born out of wedlock.\n 2. Expenditures made by a social services district for the costs of\nsuch services shall be subject to reimbursement by the state pursuant to\nthe provisions of section one hundred fifty-three or other appropriate\nprovisions of this chapter.\n