Section 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  mental retardation and 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.