§ 548-e. Neighborhood based initiatives oversight committee. 1.
Establishment. A neighborhood based initiatives oversight committee
shall be established to oversee the implementation of the provisions of
this article and shall consist of representatives of the following
agencies or their designees, with the commissioner of the department or
his or her designee serving as chairperson: the state advocate for the
disabled; the director of the office for the aging; the director of the
division of alcoholism and alcohol abuse; the executive director of the
council on children and families; the chancellor of the city university
of New York; the executive director of the developmental disabilities
action planning council; the director of the budget; the commissioner of
economic development; the commissioner of education; the commissioner of
health; the commissioner of housing and community renewal; the
commissioner of labor; the commissioner of mental health; the
commissioner of the office for people with developmental disabilities;
the commissioner of parks, recreation and historic preservation; the
chancellor of the state university of New York; the director of the
division of substance abuse services; the director of the division for
youth; the director of the division for women; and the department of
audit and control.

2. Powers and duties. a. The committee shall develop guidelines for
the operation of projects.

b. Upon request the appropriate members of the committee may provide
technical assistance to applicants.

c. The committee shall review and approve applications using the
following selection criteria:

i. the demonstrated commitment and support, including financial
support, for the project expressed by local government agencies,
community residents and leaders, appropriate service providers, and
private supporters;

ii. demographic information that indicates significant incidences of
poverty, unemployment, foster care, infant mortality, substance or
alcohol abuse, adolescent pregnancy, or other indicators of need
relevant to the action plan;

iii. the anticipated effectiveness of the project as evidenced by the
existence of other available resources, including existing links between
public and/or private agencies that focus on the provision of services
in high-need geographic areas of populations;

iv. the ability of the applicant to undertake and complete a
comprehensive project and develop an action plan; and

v. the ability of the applicant to provide the necessary data for an
effective evaluation of the project.

d. The committee shall ensure, as far as practicable, the equitable
distribution of projects among urban, suburban, and rural areas.

e. Members of the committee shall provide technical assistance on an
on-going basis to approved projects, which shall include, but shall not
be limited to: providing and analyzing data; assistance in strengthening
the programmatic and administrative viability of approved projects;
assistance in strengthening action plans; identifying federal, state and
local funds, and resources from any other sources available to support
such projects; and developing local evaluation systems.

f. To promote innovative approaches and maximize effective use of
federal, state, and local monies, and, notwithstanding any other
provision of law, the commissioner or director of any state agency on
the committee may waive, subject to the approval of the director of the
budget, for those persons, providers, and communities involved in a
project, any of such agency's regulatory requirements that may impede
the successful implementation of a project, provided that such waiver is
consistent with applicable state and federal statutes and will not
impair the general health or welfare of the people receiving services
under such project or others. Such commissioner or director shall be
authorized, in consultation with the director of the budget, to impose
appropriate alternative standards in place of any waived requirements.

g. On the basis of information submitted in approved applications and
in the action plan, the committee is required to:

i. assist in identifying and obtaining resources and funding necessary
for the implementation of the action plan, and make recommendations as
appropriate and necessary in accordance with article VII of the state
constitution;

ii. identify and request the appropriate member or members of the
committee to waive any regulations or procedures that act as barriers to
the effective implementation of the action plan, as long as such waiver
is consistent with paragraph e of this subdivision;

iii. identify any specific statutory requirements that are expected to
impede the successful implementation of such projects and, when and if
necessary, submit requests to the legislature in accordance with article
VII of the state constitution for specific legislative enactments
necessary to remove such impediments; and

iv. provide all other assistance needed for successful implementation
of the action plan.

h. The committee shall ensure that there will be a maximum use of
existing resources, services, and funds to support projects and that the
purposes and objectives of this article will be accomplished
effectively.

i. The committee shall monitor each approved project to ensure that
services are provided in accordance with this article and that funds are
used in accordance with applicable state and federal law and
regulations.

j. The committee shall require such reports as may be necessary.