Section 623. Powers and duties of the board

The  board shall have the
  following powers and duties:
    1. To establish and maintain a principal office and such other offices
  within the state as it may deem necessary.
    2. To appoint a secretary, counsel, clerks and  such  other  employees
  and  agents  as it may deem necessary, fix their compensation within the
  limitations provided by law, and prescribe their duties.
    3.  To  adopt,  promulgate,  amend  and  rescind  suitable  rules  and
  regulations  to  carry  out the provisions and purposes of this article,
  including rules for the approval of attorneys' fees  for  representation
  before  the  board  and/or  before  the appellate division upon judicial
  review as provided for  in  section  six  hundred  twenty-nine  of  this
  article,  and rules for the authorization of qualified persons to assist
  claimants in the preparation of claims for presentation to the board  or
  board members.
    4.  To  request  from  the  division  of  state police, from county or
  municipal police departments and agencies and from any  other  state  or
  municipal  department  or  agency, or public authority, and the same are
  hereby authorized to provide, such assistance and data  as  will  enable
  the board to carry out its functions and duties.
    5.  To  hear  and determine all claims for awards filed with the board
  pursuant to this article, and to reinvestigate or reopen  cases  as  the
  board deems necessary.
    6. To direct medical examination of victims.
    7.  To  hold  hearings,  administer oaths or affirmations, examine any
  person under oath or affirmation and to issue  subpoenas  requiring  the
  attendance  and  giving  of  testimony  of  witnesses  and  require  the
  production of any books, papers,  documentary  or  other  evidence.  The
  powers provided in this subdivision may be delegated by the board to any
  member  or  employee  thereof.  A subpoena issued under this subdivision
  shall be regulated by the civil practice law and rules.
    8. To take or cause to be taken affidavits or  depositions  within  or
  without the state.
    9.  To establish and maintain a special investigative unit to expedite
  processing  of  claims  by  senior  citizens   and   special   emergency
  situations,  and  to promote the establishment of a volunteer program of
  home visitation to elderly and invalid victims of violent crime.
    10. To advise and assist the governor in developing policies  designed
  to  recognize  the  legitimate  rights,  needs  and  interests  of crime
  victims.
    11. To coordinate state programs  and  activities  relating  to  crime
  victims.
    12.  To  cooperate with and assist political subdivisions of the state
  and not-for-profit organizations in the development  of  local  programs
  for crime victims.
    13.  To  study  the  operation  of laws and procedures affecting crime
  victims  and  recommend  to  the  governor  proposals  to  improve   the
  administration and effectiveness of such laws.
    14.  To  establish  an  advisory  council  to assist in formulation of
  policies on the problems of crime victims.
    15. To advocate the rights and interests of crime victims of the state
  before federal, state and local administrative, regulatory, legislative,
  judicial and criminal justice agencies.
    16.  To  promote  and  conduct   studies,   research,   analyses   and
  investigations of matters affecting the interests of crime victims.
    17. To sponsor conferences relating to the problems of crime victims.
    18.  To  serve  as  a  clearinghouse for information relating to crime
  victims' problems and programs.

    19. To accept, with the approval of the  governor,  as  agent  of  the
  state,  any grant including federal grants, or any gift for the purposes
  of this article. Any monies so received may be expended by the board  to
  effectuate  any  purpose  of  this  article,  subject  to the applicable
  provisions of the state finance law.
    20.  To render each year to the governor and to the legislature, on or
  before December first of each year, a  written  report  on  the  board's
  activities  including,  but not limited to, specific information on each
  of the subdivisions of this section, and the manner in which the rights,
  needs and interests of crime victims are being addressed by the  state's
  criminal  justice  system.  Such  report  shall also include, but not be
  limited to:
    (a) Information transmitted by the state  division  of  probation  and
  correctional  alternatives  under  subdivision five of section 390.30 of
  the criminal procedure law and subdivision seven of section 351.1 of the
  family court  act  which  the  board  shall  compile,  review  and  make
  recommendations  on  how to promote the use of restitution and encourage
  its enforcement.
    (b) Information relating to the implementation of and compliance  with
  article  twenty-three  of  this chapter by the criminal justice agencies
  and the "crime victim-related agencies" of the state.
    21. To make grants to local crime victim service  programs  and  carry
  out  related  duties  under  section  six  hundred  thirty-one-a of this
  article.
    22. To delegate to specified employees  of  the  board  the  power  to
  disallow  claims  under  circumstances  where  regulations  of the board
  provide for disallowance without prejudice to the reopening of claims.