Section 61.01. Receipt and disbursement of federal funds

(a)  The  commissioner  or  his authorized representative may receive,
  use, or distribute federal financial or technical assistance to  support
  construction,  research,  staffing,  or  other programs or activities in
  mental   health,   mental   retardation,   developmental   disabilities,
  alcoholism,  or drug addiction appropriated under federal health, mental
  health, or mental retardation legislation or regulations or under  other
  federal  legislation  or  regulations  which  provide  assistance to the
  mentally   disabled,   including   but   not   limited   to   vocational
  rehabilitation  programs,  alcoholism programs, drug addiction programs,
  poverty programs, or special programs for children or the aged.
    (b) The commissioner may promulgate rules and regulations to implement
  any provision of state or federal law involving  the  receipt,  use,  or
  disbursement of federal financial or technical assistance.
    (c)  The  department of taxation and finance shall be the custodian of
  federal financial assistance granted or allocated to the  department  by
  the  United  States. Funds shall be paid out on the audit and warrant of
  the comptroller on the certificate of the commissioner or his authorized
  representative.
    (d) Subject to the rules and  regulations  of  the  commissioner,  any
  funds  made  available  to  the  department  by  the United States or by
  another state agency as a federal allotment to be  administered  by  the
  department  may  be  disbursed  by  it  to a local government, voluntary
  non-profit agency, educational agency, or person properly authorized  to
  receive  funds  in fulfillment of the purposes of appropriate federal or
  state  legislation  for  the  provision  of  services,  construction  of
  facilities,   research,  staffing,  training,  or  related  programs  or
  activities.