ALBANY (AP) - New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is seeking data from every school district in the state since he found evidence that some may have inappropriately extended pension benefits to part-time lawyers, consultants, professionals and others.

The letter, sent to more than 700 school and BOCES districts, explains the conditions under which these professionals and other officials shouldn't be classified as employees. Only employees under federal and state law qualify for the pension.

The statewide investigation follows Cuomo's recent probes into the arrangements in the Westchester County and Long Island districts.

He says there's evidence that some districts have wrongly classified lawyers and others paid by fees or contracts. He said he will seek to recoup any misspent public dollars.

"We have evidence to suggest that this practice has happened in other areas across the state," Cuomo told The Associated Press. "We want to be thorough in our review and therefore we are making this inquiry to all school districts in the state."

Cuomo said he will have criminal and civil authority in the case, which was referred to him by the state Education Department.

If any illicit arrangements are proven, the hired professionals could be required to repay the state pension system.