§ 153. Specific powers, functions and duties. The department of state
shall have the following specific powers, functions and duties:

1. (a) To act as the official state planning agency for all of the
purposes of sections seven hundred one and seven hundred three of the
federal housing act of nineteen hundred fifty-four, as heretofore and
hereafter amended, except as otherwise provided by law.

(b) To act as agent for, and enter into contracts and otherwise
cooperate with, the federal government in connection with the authority
referred to in paragraph (a) of this subdivision, and as such agent to
administer any grant or advance of funds for the assistance of any such
activities to the state, or through the state to the governing bodies of
municipalities, legally constituted metropolitan or regional planning
agencies, and tribal councils or other legally constituted tribal bodies
for planning for an Indian reservation located within the territorial
jurisdiction of the state of New York, complying with the provisions of
such grants or advances.

(c) To present any claim, other than claims required by law to be
presented by the commissioner of transportation, to the federal
government or any agency or official thereof with respect to the funds
made available for the purposes specified in paragraphs (a) and (b) of
this subdivision.

(d) To enter into a contract or contracts with any municipality,
legally constituted metropolitan or regional planning agency, or tribal
council or other legally constituted tribal body for planning for an
Indian reservation located within the territorial jurisdiction of the
state of New York, in connection with the authority provided in
paragraph (a) of this subdivision for grants to be made to such
municipality, planning agency or tribal council or other legally
constituted tribal body by the state, within amounts appropriated
therefor, for planning projects approved by the secretary, which
contracts shall provide that the approved cost of a planning project,
over and above the amount which may be received from federal grants
therefor, shall be borne in an amount not to exceed one-half thereof by
the state pursuant to such contracts and the remainder thereof out of
local funds appropriated therefor by such municipality, planning agency
or tribal council or other legally constituted tribal body.

2. To act as the official agent of the state for the purpose of
administering, carrying out and otherwise cooperating with the federal
government in connection with the provisions of the federal Appalachian
regional development act of nineteen hundred sixty-five as heretofore
and hereafter amended; to apply for, accept, and expend funds made
available by the federal government pursuant to such federal acts and
enter into any necessary contracts or compacts in connection therewith;
and to take any further action which may be required under the terms of
any such federal act.

3. To act as the official agent of the state for the purpose of
administering, carrying out and otherwise cooperating with the federal
government in connection with the provisions of the federal public works
and economic development act of nineteen hundred sixty-five, as
heretofore and hereafter amended; to apply for, accept, and expend funds
made available by the federal government pursuant to such federal acts
and enter into any necessary contracts or compacts in connection
therewith; to review and approve overall economic development programs
prepared under the provisions of such federal acts as to the
qualifications of the area or district organization and the adequacy and
reasonableness of such programs, and every political subdivision of the
state, or private or public non-profit organization or association
submitting an overall economic development program to the federal
government must submit such overall economic development program for
review by the department of state; to act on behalf of the political
subdivisions of the state in connection with making findings that
projects for which financial assistance is sought under the provisions
of such federal acts are consistent with an overall program for the
economic development of the area; and to take any further action which
may be required under the terms of any such federal acts, including but
not limited to delineating economic development districts and economic
development regions and providing for the administration of such
districts and regions in any manner deemed appropriate by the
department, except that with regard to section three hundred two of such
act, the governor shall designate the official agent of the state for
the purpose of administering, carrying out and otherwise cooperating
with the federal government in connection with the provisions of such
section.

5. (a) To make or contract to make, within appropriations therefor,
state grants to municipalities to cover fifty per centum of the costs to
municipalities of preparing applications to the federal government for
federal assistance for the planning of comprehensive city demonstration
programs as authorized under title one of the demonstration cities and
metropolitan development act of nineteen hundred sixty-six as modified
by the provisions of title I of the housing and community development
act of nineteen hundred seventy-four, and any federal laws as heretofore
and hereafter amended, as such costs shall be certified by the
municipality and approved by the secretary of state.

(b) In the case of municipalities which have contracted with the
federal government for a federal grant to assist in financing the costs
of planning comprehensive city demonstration programs under the
authority referred to in paragraph (a) of this subdivision, to make or
contract to make, within appropriations therefor, state grants to such
municipalities to cover fifty per centum of the net cost to the
municipality of undertaking and completing such planning, exclusive of
any federal assistance, as such net cost shall be certified by the
municipality and approved by the secretary of state, but in no event
shall such state grants exceed one-eighth of the federal grant.

(c) In the case of municipalities which have had applications approved
by the federal government for federal assistance for the planning of
comprehensive city demonstration programs under the authority referred
to in paragraph (a) of this subdivision, but for which federal funds are
not then available, to make or contract to make, within appropriations
therefor, state grants to such municipalities in an amount not to exceed
ninety per centum of the reasonably anticipated costs of undertaking and
completing such planning, as such costs shall be certified by the
municipality and approved by the secretary of state; provided, however,
that no such grant shall be made unless the municipality agrees to repay
such grant out of federal funds made available to the municipality for
such planning, when and to the extent such federal funds are made
available.

(d) In carrying out the functions, powers and duties prescribed in
paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this subdivision and in developing plans
and applications under title one of the housing and community
development act of nineteen hundred seventy-four, to provide such
technical assistance to the municipalities as the secretary of state
determines to be appropriate.

6. The department of taxation and finance is hereby designated to
accept and receive all grants and advances from the federal government
pursuant to the provisions of sections seven hundred one and seven
hundred three of the federal housing act of nineteen hundred fifty-four
and the provisions of the federal Appalachian regional development act
of nineteen hundred sixty-five and the federal public works and economic
development act of nineteen hundred sixty-five and the federal fire
prevention and control act of nineteen hundred seventy-four, as such
acts may be amended from time to time, which are provided for the
purposes specified in subdivisions one, two, three, four and five of
this section and all moneys so accepted and received shall be deposited
by the department of taxation and finance in special funds for use
exclusively for the purposes for which such grants or advances were
made. Payment from such special funds shall be made upon audit and
warrant of the comptroller upon vouchers approved by the secretary.

7. Nothing contained in this section shall be deemed to derogate or
detract in any way from the functions, powers and duties prescribed by
law of any state department or agency or any municipality, nor to
interrupt or preclude the direct relationships of any such department or
agency with any such municipality for the carrying out of such
functions, powers and duties.