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Executive Office
Commissioner David A. Hansell
The Commissioner of the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) is responsible for the overall management and direction of the Agency. The Commissioner is assisted in this function by an Executive Deputy Commissioner and a small number of professional and support staff. These individuals serve in a confidential assistant capacity to the Commissioner and/or the Executive Deputy, acting as representatives on task forces, handling special projects and performing related duties in support of the Executive Office.
Executive Deputy Commissioner's Office
Elizabeth A. Berlin
The Executive Deputy Commissioner's Office is responsible for overall agency management in partnership with Commissioner Hansell and also oversees local social service districts and works to strengthen ties between the counties and the state.
Executive Deputy Commissioner Biography
The following organizational units fall within the executive office:
Audit and Quality Improvement (A&QI)
James White, Director
The Bureau of Audit and Quality Improvement (A&QI) is the audit and investigative arm of the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA). A&QI audits are critical in ensuring that OTDA meets its supervisory responsibilities over the administration of its programs by local Departments of Social Services. A&QI provides information to OTDA program management on whether locally implemented programs are in compliance with applicable State Laws and Regulations and offers recommendations for corrective action when deficiencies are identified. A&QI conducts federally mandated quality control reviews for the Food Stamp program; collects and reports on Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) data; undertakes program audits and operational reviews; and implements program integrity activites such as prison matches, fugitive felon matches, and automated finger imaging. A&QI is also responsible for software and systems development for audits and the coordination of external audits. Internal Audit is a separate unit co-located with the Bureau of Audit and Quality Improvement. The Director of A&QI also serves as the Director of Internal Audit for OTDA.
Budget, Finance, and Data Management (BFDM)
Mike Normile, Director
BFDM has primary responsibility for developing OTDA’s annual budget and for monitoring expenditures. BFDM also publishes official statistics and special analyses concerning welfare reform, OTDA expenditures, program participation, policy effectiveness and client demographics. BFDM is the central point of contact for information requests from OTDA executive staff, the Division of the Budget and other State agencies. To execute its responsibilities, BFDM oversees agency-wide development of annual budget proposals, produces budget submission documents, maintains several special purpose databases, designs and supervises research conducted by outside contractors, monitors key measures of local district performance and analyzes published data from State and federal agencies and research organizations.
Within BFDM, the Bureau of Financial Services is responsible for establishing fiscal policies for local social services districts and other State agencies administering OTDA programs, providing appropriate federal and/or State reimbursement to local social services districts and other State agencies, developing cost allocation plans for local social services districts to follow, providing technical assistance to local social services districts on fiscal policies and procedures, filing federal financial reports to the respective federal agencies and processing the financial transactions needed to meet OTDA’s everyday operational needs.
Equal Opportunity Development (EOD)
Larry Ritter, Director
EOD coordinates the development and implementation of policies and practices which promote equal opportunities for applicants, trainees, employees and clients of OTDA without regard to race, gender, religion, age, national origin, physical ability or veteran status. EOD also addresses issues pertaining to affirmative action, harassment, intimidation and reasonable accommodation.
Legal Affairs (LA)
Jack Bailly, Chief Counsel
Legal Affairs has two offices, Counsel’s Office and the Office of Administrative Hearings (also known as Fair Hearings).
Counsel’s Office is responsible for establishing and interpreting legal policy for OTDA and for providing legal advice and counsel to OTDA's program and administrative support divisions. Counsel’s Office also provides legal advice and counsel to local social services districts and other agencies, where appropriate.
The Office of Administrative Hearings is responsible for providing prompt and impartial administrative hearings, and to issue timely and accurate hearing decisions which review local social services district and OTDA determinations regarding social services programs. The Office of Administrative Hearings also performs administrative hearings on behalf of other agencies and is required to process a very high volume of requests.
Public Information (PI)
Michael Hayes, Director
The Public Information Office (PIO) coordinates public information activities with the Governor’s Communications Office; prepares and/or reviews and disseminates all official OTDA statements and publications; initiates media coverage and has sole responsibility for responding to media inquiries; responds to requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act and the Personal Privacy Act; and coordinates the translations of OTDA materials.
Public Information contact information
Intergovernmental Affairs (IA)
Elizabeth Segal, Director
The IA unit serves as OTDA’s liaison on legislative matters with the State Legislature, the Governor’s Office, other State agencies, Congress, Federal agencies, local governments, and a myriad of advocacy and provider organizations. IA is responsible for advocating on behalf of the agency’s priorities at all levels of government. As part of these efforts, IA works with other departments within OTDA to develop legislation and coordinates strategy to advance the agency’s mission of helping low-income New Yorkers.