Section 942. Powers and duties of the council

1.  The  council  on
  professional career opportunity shall  have  the  following  powers  and
  duties:
    a. to recommend goals and objectives for the enrollment and graduation
  of  minority  and  disadvantaged  students  in  public  and  independent
  institutions  of  higher  education  offering   professional   education
  programs;
    b.  to  monitor and evaluate progress in increasing the representation
  of  minority  and  disadvantaged  students  in  professional   education
  programs;
    c.  to  advise  the  governor  and  the  legislature  on strategies to
  increase access  to  professional  careers  and  professional  education
  programs on the part of minority and disadvantaged persons;
    d.   to  recommend  revisions  to  laws,  rules,  and  regulations  to
  effectuate the purposes of this article;
    e. to accept  and  expend  any  grants,  awards,  or  other  funds  or
  appropriations  as  may  be  available  to the council to effectuate the
  purposes of this chapter.
    2. At the request of the council,  institutions  of  higher  education
  offering  professional  education  programs shall furnish to the council
  such reports and  information  as  it  may  require  to  effectuate  the
  purposes of this article.
    3.  The  council shall, by February first, nineteen hundred eighty-six
  and annually thereafter, submit a written report to the governor and the
  legislature setting forth the  recommendations  and  activities  of  the
  council  on  matters  within the scope of its powers as set forth in the
  article, describing progress made in achieving goals and objectives.
    4. The council shall study and advise the governor and the legislature
  on the problems of recruitment, enrollment, and  retention  of  minority
  and disadvantaged students in professional education programs.
    5.  The  council shall appoint such officers, agents, consultants, and
  special committees it deems necessary to carry  out  the  provisions  of
  this article.
    6.  For  the purpose of advising and assisting the council in carrying
  out its powers and duties in regard to medical education there is hereby
  established an advisory committee  on  medical  education  comprised  of
  eleven  members.  The  members and chairperson of the advisory committee
  shall be selected by the chairperson of the council  and  shall  include
  representatives   of  public  and  independent  institutions  of  higher
  education offering  an  approved  program  in  medicine  and  physicians
  authorized  or  licensed  to  practice  medicine within the state of New
  York. The membership of the advisory committee  shall  include  minority
  representation.