Section 20-A. Settlement of claims

Notwithstanding  any  inconsistent
  provision of this act or of the state finance law, the comptroller shall
  examine, audit, and certify for payment  the  settlement  of  any  claim
  filed  in  the  court  of claims for injuries to personal property, real
  property, or for personal injuries caused by the tort of an  officer  or
  employee of the state while acting as such officer or employee, provided
  that a stipulation of settlement executed by the parties shall have been
  approved by order of the court. No such stipulation shall be executed on
  behalf of the state without, after consultation with the director of the
  budget,  the  approval  of  the  head of the department or agency having
  supervision of the officer  or  employee  alleged  to  have  caused  the
  injuries and of the attorney general. The attorney general shall cause a
  review to be made within the department of law of all cases filed in the
  court  of  claims  to determine which cases are appropriate for possible
  settlement. Payment of any claim made pursuant  to  the  approval  of  a
  settlement  by  the  court shall be made from the funds appropriated for
  the purpose of payment  of  judgments  against  the  state  pursuant  to
  section  twenty  of this act. In any case where payment is to be made to
  an inmate serving a sentence of imprisonment with the  state  department
  of   correctional  services  or  to  a  prisoner  confined  at  a  local
  correctional facility, the procedures set forth in subdivision six-a  of
  section  twenty  of this article shall be followed. On or before January
  fifteenth the comptroller, in consultation with the  department  of  law
  and  other  agencies as may be appropriate, shall submit to the governor
  and the legislature an annual accounting of settlements paid pursuant to
  this section  during  the  preceding  and  current  fiscal  years.  Such
  accounting  shall  include,  but  not be limited to the number, type and
  amount of claims so paid, as well as an estimate of claims  to  be  paid
  during the remainder of the current fiscal year and during the following
  fiscal year.