Bill > A05883

This bill, known as the "state taxpayer oversight and protection (STOP) act," amends the public officers law to introduce new restrictions on attorneys' fees and legal representation for state employees. The bill modifies existing provisions about legal defense for state employees, primarily focusing on limiting the state's financial liability for legal expenses. Specifically, the bill prohibits the state from paying attorneys' fees for any action brought by an employee against the state, and introduces a presumption that attorneys' fees are unreasonable if an employee hires multiple law firms for the same matter, unless the employee can prove a genuine need for additional legal expertise. The bill also requires the comptroller to review attorneys' fees to ensure they are proportional and consistent with defense strategies used in similar cases. The law will apply to both pending claims not yet paid by the state and new claims submitted after the bill's effective date. The changes aim to provide greater financial oversight and protect taxpayer resources by reducing potentially excessive legal expenses for state employee litigation.

Government Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A5883