N.Y. Jud. Law § 121-A
The justices of the appellate division in each department shall have power to fix the time and places for the hearing of references within their respective departments by the official referees of the supreme court.
Every official referee shall devote his whole time to the duties of his office. The work of official referees shall be regularly reviewed by the justices of the appellate divisions of the supreme court. Official referees may be assigned for service as in any county, judicial department or district, without regard to his place of residence or district or department of appointment and when so assigned shall perform all of the duties regularly discharged by an official referee. The several appellate divisions of the supreme court shall promptly adopt rules and procedures for the requisition, transfer and assignment of official referees.
N.Y. Jud. Law § 121-A