N.Y. Executive Law § 551: The justice center for the protection of people with special needs

§ 551. The justice center for the protection of people with special

needs. 1. There is hereby created within the executive department a

justice center for the protection of people with special needs ("justice

center" or "center"). Such justice center shall be headed by an

executive director, who shall be appointed by the governor, by and with

the advice and consent of the senate. The executive director may appoint

staff and perform such other functions for the efficient operation of

the justice center within the amounts made available therefor by

appropriation.

2. The executive director shall recommend policies and procedures to

the state oversight agency for the protection of vulnerable persons,

including but not limited to policies and procedures: (a) for the

protection of vulnerable persons who reside in or receive services from

facilities or provider agencies as set forth in subdivision four of

section four hundred eighty-eight of the social services law; (b)

relating to assuring, on behalf of the state, that vulnerable persons

are afforded care that is of a uniformly high standard; (c) relating to

assuring, on behalf of the state, that vulnerable persons are afforded

the opportunity to exercise all of the rights and responsibilities

accorded to residents of the state; and (d) to harmonize and improve the

procedures for and quality of investigations of reportable incidents

involving vulnerable persons within the different systems of care in the

state.

3. The executive director may, in consultation with the advisory

council, promulgate, adopt, amend or rescind rules and regulations

necessary to carry out the provisions of this article; provided,

however, that such rules and regulations shall be strictly limited in

their application to the means and methods of compliance with the

provisions of this article.