Section 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.