N.Y. Mental Hygiene Law § 41.04: Responsibilities of commissioners of the offices

§ 41.04 Responsibilities of commissioners of the offices.

(a) In order to prevent unnecessary fragmentation in the planning and

financing of the care, treatment and rehabilitation of the mentally

disabled, the commissioners of the offices in the department shall

consult and cooperate with one another and shall meet from time to time

with the New York state conference of local mental hygiene directors, to

ensure that the procedural policies, forms, time frames for submission

and approval of plans and rules and regulations governing the procedures

for planning and financing of the care, treatment and rehabilitation of

the mentally disabled adopted by each of the offices in the department

are consistent with one another.

(b) Guidelines for the operation of local services plans and financing

shall be adopted only by rule or regulation. Such rules and regulations

shall be submitted at least twenty-one days prior to the effective date

thereof to the New York state conference of local mental hygiene

directors for comment thereon; provided, however, if a commissioner

finds that the public health, welfare or safety requires the prompt

adoption of rules and regulations, he may dispense with such submission

prior to the effective date thereof but, in such case, such commissioner

shall submit such rules and regulations to the conference as soon as

possible for their review within sixty days after the effective date

thereof.