N.Y. Executive Law § 4-b: Chief disability officer

§ 4-b. Chief disability officer. 1. Persons with disabilities comprise

a major segment of the state of New York's population and their

particular needs and concerns must be considered as an integral part of

the planning and implementation of all state programs and services

affecting their lives and well-being. The office of the chief disability

officer shall advocate on behalf of persons with disabilities and ensure

that persons with disabilities are afforded the opportunity to exercise

all of the rights and responsibilities accorded to citizens of this

state.

2. For purposes of this article:

(a) "Persons with disabilities" shall mean any person who has a

disability as defined in subdivision twenty-one of section two hundred

ninety-two of this chapter.

(b) "State agency" or "state agencies" shall mean any state

department, board, bureau, division, commission, committee, public

authority, public corporation, council, office or other governmental

entity performing a governmental or proprietary function for the state,

except the judiciary or the state legislature.

3. (a) The governor shall appoint a chief disability officer. The

chief disability officer shall advise and assist state agencies in

developing policies designed to help meet the needs of persons with

disabilities. The chief disability officer shall be appointed by the

governor and receive a salary to be fixed by the governor within the

amounts appropriated therefor.

(b) The chief disability officer shall: (i) be the state's coordinator

for the implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act; (ii)

coordinate state activities to ensure that state programs do not

discriminate against and are accessible to persons with disabilities;

(iii) ensure that such programs provide services to individuals with

disabilities in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs;

and (iv) work with state agencies to develop legislation and potential

regulatory changes to help effectuate the duties and responsibilities

required in this article, and any other changes that may significantly

affect the lives of persons with disabilities in the state.

(c) The chief disability officer shall, to the extent practicable,

review and report to the governor upon proposed legislation and

regulations. The chief disability officer shall submit comments, where

appropriate, to the state agency which referred such proposed

legislation and regulations evaluating: (i) the impact of the proposed

legislation or regulation upon persons with disabilities; (ii) the

relationship and impact of such proposed legislation or regulation on

existing programs affecting persons with disabilities; and (iii) any

modifications that would help persons with disabilities or aid in the

implementation of the new proposal. All state agencies shall cooperate

with the chief disability officer to ensure that the chief disability

officer is able to fulfill the requirements under this section.