New York Consolidated Laws, Social Services Law - SOS § 110-a. Special provisions for legal services to enforce support to recover costs of public assistance and care and to establish paternity

1. Any inconsistent provision of law notwithstanding, the appropriating body of a social services district may authorize and make provision for the social services commissioner of such district to obtain:  (a) necessary legal services on a fee for service basis or other appropriate basis which the department may approve, to obtain support from spouses and parents, to recover costs of public assistance and care granted, to establish paternity, and to initiate and prosecute proceedings for the commitment of the guardianship and custody of destitute or dependent children to authorized agencies, pursuant to the provisions of this chapter and the domestic relations law, the family court act and other laws, and (b) necessary services of private investigators, licensed pursuant to section seventy of the general business law, on a fee for service or other appropriate basis which the department may approve, to provide investigative assistance in efforts of the district to locate absent parents and fathers of children born out of wedlock.

2. Expenditures made by a social services district for the costs of such services shall be subject to reimbursement by the state pursuant to the provisions of section one hundred fifty-three or other appropriate provisions of this chapter.