N.Y. Executive Law § 548-e: Neighborhood based initiatives oversight committee

§ 548-e. Neighborhood based initiatives oversight committee. 1.

Establishment. A neighborhood based initiatives oversight committee

shall be established to oversee the implementation of the provisions of

this article and shall consist of representatives of the following

agencies or their designees, with the commissioner of the department or

his or her designee serving as chairperson: the state advocate for the

disabled; the director of the office for the aging; the director of the

division of alcoholism and alcohol abuse; the executive director of the

council on children and families; the chancellor of the city university

of New York; the executive director of the developmental disabilities

action planning council; the director of the budget; the commissioner of

economic development; the commissioner of education; the commissioner of

health; the commissioner of housing and community renewal; the

commissioner of labor; the commissioner of mental health; the

commissioner of the office for people with developmental disabilities;

the commissioner of parks, recreation and historic preservation; the

chancellor of the state university of New York; the director of the

division of substance abuse services; the director of the division for

youth; the director of the division for women; and the department of

audit and control.

2. Powers and duties. a. The committee shall develop guidelines for

the operation of projects.

b. Upon request the appropriate members of the committee may provide

technical assistance to applicants.

c. The committee shall review and approve applications using the

following selection criteria:

i. the demonstrated commitment and support, including financial

support, for the project expressed by local government agencies,

community residents and leaders, appropriate service providers, and

private supporters;

ii. demographic information that indicates significant incidences of

poverty, unemployment, foster care, infant mortality, substance or

alcohol abuse, adolescent pregnancy, or other indicators of need

relevant to the action plan;

iii. the anticipated effectiveness of the project as evidenced by the

existence of other available resources, including existing links between

public and/or private agencies that focus on the provision of services

in high-need geographic areas of populations;

iv. the ability of the applicant to undertake and complete a

comprehensive project and develop an action plan; and

v. the ability of the applicant to provide the necessary data for an

effective evaluation of the project.

d. The committee shall ensure, as far as practicable, the equitable

distribution of projects among urban, suburban, and rural areas.

e. Members of the committee shall provide technical assistance on an

on-going basis to approved projects, which shall include, but shall not

be limited to: providing and analyzing data; assistance in strengthening

the programmatic and administrative viability of approved projects;

assistance in strengthening action plans; identifying federal, state and

local funds, and resources from any other sources available to support

such projects; and developing local evaluation systems.

f. To promote innovative approaches and maximize effective use of

federal, state, and local monies, and, notwithstanding any other

provision of law, the commissioner or director of any state agency on

the committee may waive, subject to the approval of the director of the

budget, for those persons, providers, and communities involved in a

project, any of such agency's regulatory requirements that may impede

the successful implementation of a project, provided that such waiver is

consistent with applicable state and federal statutes and will not

impair the general health or welfare of the people receiving services

under such project or others. Such commissioner or director shall be

authorized, in consultation with the director of the budget, to impose

appropriate alternative standards in place of any waived requirements.

g. On the basis of information submitted in approved applications and

in the action plan, the committee is required to:

i. assist in identifying and obtaining resources and funding necessary

for the implementation of the action plan, and make recommendations as

appropriate and necessary in accordance with article VII of the state

constitution;

ii. identify and request the appropriate member or members of the

committee to waive any regulations or procedures that act as barriers to

the effective implementation of the action plan, as long as such waiver

is consistent with paragraph e of this subdivision;

iii. identify any specific statutory requirements that are expected to

impede the successful implementation of such projects and, when and if

necessary, submit requests to the legislature in accordance with article

VII of the state constitution for specific legislative enactments

necessary to remove such impediments; and

iv. provide all other assistance needed for successful implementation

of the action plan.

h. The committee shall ensure that there will be a maximum use of

existing resources, services, and funds to support projects and that the

purposes and objectives of this article will be accomplished

effectively.

i. The committee shall monitor each approved project to ensure that

services are provided in accordance with this article and that funds are

used in accordance with applicable state and federal law and

regulations.

j. The committee shall require such reports as may be necessary.