N.Y. Civ. Serv. Law § 115

§ 115. Policy of the state. In order to attract unusual merit and\nability to the service of the state of New York, to stimulate higher\nefficiency among the personnel, to provide skilled leadership in\nadministrative departments, to reward merit and to insure to the people\nand the taxpayers of the state of New York the highest return in\nservices for the necessary costs of government, it is hereby declared to\nbe the policy of the state to provide equal pay for equal work, and\nregular increases in pay in proper proportion to increase of ability,\nincrease of output and increase of quality of work demonstrated in\nservice.\n