N.Y. Mental Hygiene Law § 41.05: Local governmental unit

§ 41.05 Local governmental unit.

(a) To be eligible for state aid pursuant to this chapter, a local

government shall establish a local governmental unit, which shall be an

identifiable entity within the local government.

(b) Each local governmental unit shall have a community services board

for services to individuals with mental illness, developmental

disabilities and those suffering from alcoholism and substance abuse

which shall have separate subcommittees for mental health, developmental

disabilities, and alcoholism, except that, at the discretion of the

local government, a subcommittee for alcoholism and substance abuse may

be substituted for a subcommittee for alcoholism.

(c) Each local governmental unit shall have a director who shall be

its chief executive officer. Charter governments may vest policy-making

functions in the director or they may vest all or some of such functions

in the board. In all other cases, the policy-making functions shall vest

in the board.

(d) Applications to the state for aid pursuant to this chapter shall

be made by the respective local govermental units, except that an

application for capital costs may be made by a voluntary agency in

accordance with the provisions of this article.

(e) Each local governmental unit shall direct and administer a local

comprehensive planning process for its geographic area, consistent with

established statewide goals and objectives. All providers of services

and department facilities shall participate in and provide information

for this planning process. The department shall provide technical

assistance as may be requested by such local governmental units, within

available resources.