Arbitration

§ 206. Arbitration. (a) Threshold questions under CPLR article 75. If an action of which the court has jurisdiction has been duly commenced therein, and there arise in such action any questions relating to the arbitrability of the controversy, the court shall have jurisdiction completely to dispose of such questions and CPLR article 75 shall be applicable thereto. But the court shall not have jurisdiction of the special proceeding, as set forth in CPLR § 7502 (a), used to bring before a court the first application arising out of an arbitrable controversy, except as provided in subdivision (b).

(b) Proceedings on award under CPLR article 75. Where a controversy has been duly arbitrated and an award made therein is for relief which is within the court's jurisdiction, the court shall have jurisdiction of proceedings under CPLR §§ 7510 through 7514, relating to judicial recognition of such awards, which provisions shall be applicable thereto.

(c) Arbitration distinct from CPLR article 75. The rules may provide systems of arbitration and conciliation of claims within the court's jurisdiction without reference to CPLR article 75. Where the chief administrator of the courts has provided by rule for an alternative method of dispute resolution by arbitration and has established by order this arbitration program in any county in this court, applicable in each such county to civil actions for a sum of money only, except those commenced in small claims parts and not subsequently transferred to a regular part of court, that on or after the effective date of such order are noticed for trial or commenced in this court, all such actions shall be heard and decided by a panel of arbitrators where the recovery sought for each cause of action is ten thousand dollars or less, exclusive of costs and interest.