N.Y. Education Law § 1009: Powers and duties of department of social services relating to vocational rehabilitation of blind persons

§ 1009. Powers and duties of department of social services relating to

vocational rehabilitation of blind persons. 1. The board of social

services, the department of social services and the New York state

commission for the visually handicapped shall retain, and shall continue

to exercise, all the powers and duties relating to blind persons

conferred on them by the provisions of any other law.

2. The department of social services is empowered to perform any and

all acts that may be required to be performed by it by any law of the

United States in order to obtain funds through the New York state board

for vocational education, or otherwise, from any federal department or

agency, for use in the vocational rehabilitation of blind persons; such

department is further empowered to use and expend such funds for the

purpose herein mentioned in accordance with the provisions of any law of

the United States making such funds available to the state.

3. (a) Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of this article,

funds made available to the state by the United States to be used for

vocational rehabilitation of blind persons shall be accepted and used by

the state for such purposes provided the department of social services

shall determine to accept and to use the same in accordance with the

provisions of any law of the United States.

(b) Provided the federal government shall make funds available, the

department of social services and its commission for the visually

handicapped are empowered to accept gifts for the extension and

improvement of non-profit facilities and workshops for the training and

rehabilitation of blind persons, and to match the value of such gifts

made to such department or commission for such purposes by or on behalf

of such non-profit facilities or workshops. The department may utilize

such federal funds and gifts for such purposes and may make appropriate

agreements therefor with suitable non-profit agencies serving the blind.