N.Y. Public Health Law § 423: Boards of visitors; general powers and duties

§ 423. Boards of visitors; general powers and duties. 1. The board of

visitors of each hospital in the department shall have the powers and

duties expressly conferred or imposed on it by this chapter and such

other powers and duties, not inconsistent with law as may be prescribed

by rules of the commissioner.

2. Each board of visitors shall:

(a) subject to such rules and the statutory powers of the

commissioner, take care of the general interest of the institution and

see that its objective is carried into effect;

(b) maintain an effective inspection of the institution, for which

purpose the board, or a majority of its members, shall visit and inspect

the institution at least once every three months;

(c) keep in a book provided for that purpose, a fair and full record

of its activities, which shall be open at all times to the inspection

and examination of the governor or of any person appointed by the

governor or by either house of the legislature, or to the commissioner

or his authorized representatives;

(d) enter in a book, kept at the institution for that purpose, the

date of each visit of each visitor;

(e) investigate, hear and ascertain the truth of all charges made

against the director or other officer or employee of the institution,

issue subpoenas, take and hear testimony in respect to such charges and

make its recommendations thereon to the authority having the power to

discharge or remove. A witness attending before such board shall be

entitled to the same fees as a witness attending before a court of

record or a judge thereof, which shall be paid as other institutional

charges.