§ 1121. Service centers for independent living; purpose and duties.
1. A service center for independent living shall be a community based
non-residential program designed to promote independent living for
persons with disabilities.

(a) Such center shall:

(i) be a private not-for-profit corporation, pursuant to subdivision
five of paragraph a of section one hundred two of the not-for-profit
corporation law; provided, however, that persons with disabilities
comprise at least fifty-one percent of the membership of the board of
directors;

(ii) be staffed by persons experienced in assisting persons with
disabilities;

(iii) provide services designed to meet the needs of persons with
disabilities, including such services as assisting persons with
disabilities to obtain housing, employment referral, transportation
referral, attendant care, independent living skills, peer counseling,
advocacy services, job training, health care, homemaker services, and
other such services as approved by the commissioner;

(iv) train personnel for the purpose of attendant care in assisting
and serving persons with disabilities; and

(v) serve persons with disabilities.

(b) Such center may also, but need not limit itself to, provide
disability awareness programs, peer counseling, role modeling and any
other appropriate services within elementary and secondary schools.

2. Such service centers shall not be established or operated as a
residential or housing facility.

3. Such service centers shall make maximum use of existing resources
available to persons with disabilities and shall not duplicate any
existing services or programs, to the extent that such services or
programs are available through other state sources to meet the needs of
persons with disabilities. Such centers shall however provide necessary
information and referral to assist a person with a disability in
obtaining such services and coordinate where possible the delivery of
such services to persons with disabilities.

4. Such service centers shall be in compliance with all applicable
local laws and ordinances.