§ 8600. Intent and short title. It is the intent of this article,
which may hereafter be known and cited as the "New York State Equal
Access to Justice Act", to create a mechanism authorizing the recovery
of counsel fees and other reasonable expenses in certain actions against
the state of New York, similar to the provisions of federal law
contained in 28 U.S.C. § 2412(d) and the significant body of case law
that has evolved thereunder.