N.Y. Labor Law § 344
Notwithstanding any other state or local law or regulation to the contrary, the special task force shall have the following powers: 1. To inspect books, records and premises of manufacturers and contractors, with respect to their respective production employees, to determine compliance with this chapter, including but not limited to, minimum wage, overtime compensation, unemployment insurance coverage, child labor and industrial homework and, if the special task force determines that a manufacturer or contractor has violated any provision of this chapter with respect to its production employees, to assess and collect, on behalf of the commissioner, an administrative penalty. If the violation is of a provision of this chapter for which the assessment and collection of an administrative penalty is not otherwise authorized, the special task force may assess and collect a penalty of up to two hundred fifty dollars for a first violation and up to five hundred dollars for each subsequent violation. No penalty shall be levied pursuant to this subdivision unless the commissioner shall provide the violator with notification of such violation and of the amount of such administrative penalty by certified mail and with an opportunity to request a hearing within fifteen days following the receipt of such notice. If a hearing is requested, the commissioner may issue a final order upon such hearing and a finding that a violation has occurred. If no hearing is requested, such notice shall become a final order upon the expiration of the fifteen-day period. Payment of such administrative penalty is due when a final order is issued or when the notice becomes a final order. Any penalty imposed pursuant to this subdivision may be recovered with costs upon an appeal to the appellate division of the supreme court pursuant to article seventy-eight of the civil practice law and rules and upon a final determination that the finding by the commissioner was in error. Any penalty paid pursuant to this subdivision shall be applied to enforcement and administrative costs of the special task force;