N.Y. Public Health Law § 2901: General powers and duties

§ 2901. General powers and duties. The department of health is

generally authorized and empowered (a) to inventory existing hospitals

of every character in the state, to survey the need for construction of

hospitals and to develop programs for construction of such public or

other nonprofit hospitals as will afford, in conjunction with existing

facilities, the necessary physical facilities for furnishing adequate

hospital services to all the people; and (b) to carry out the plan for

construction of public and nonprofit hospitals and related facilities in

accordance with such program.

The department of health shall also (a) keep records of all its

activities; (b) prepare and maintain current progress information on

development programs, hospital construction and current hospital

facilities; (c) maintain liaison with federal officials and agencies

concerning hospitals and hospital planning; (d) have all other powers

necessary to carry out any state plan adopted in conformity with the

provisions of federal law relating thereto and, to effectuate the

provisions of this section, take all necessary steps to conform to the

requirements of the federal law concerning inventory, survey, planning

and construction of hospitals; (e) establish rules and regulations

relating to the administration of the provisions of this section.

The department of health shall also establish rules and regulations

with regard to hearings which it must allow to every construction

applicant who may be dissatisfied with action on its application.