Section 35-C. Real time and wind water level telemetry system

1.
  Establishment of system. The seceretary of state shall arrange  for  the
  establishment  of  a  real time and wind water level telemetry system to
  inform and assist users of the harbors and waterways of the state.
    2. General functions and powers. To provide for such a real  time  and
  wind  water  level  telemetry system, the department of state shall have
  the power, duty and authority:
    a. To  arrange  for  the  construction,  installation,  operation  and
  maintenance  of  a  computerized information system based on water level
  gauges and other remote sensing devices, starting from  lower  New  York
  harbor  and the lower Hudson river to Haverstraw bay and the Albany area
  and including the entrance to  Long  Island  sound  extending,  as  user
  demand may warrant, to other ports and waterways of the state;
    b.  To  arrange  for  the  establishment  of  a schedule of fees to be
  charged to actual users for the information provided from such a system,
  adequate to amortize the  cost  of  installation  and  construction,  to
  recover  the  annual  costs  of operation and maintenance and to collect
  such fees; and
    c. To report annually to the  governor  and  the  legislature  on  the
  operation   of  the  program  for  the  year  preceding  and  plans  and
  recommendations for the future.
    3. Specific functions. To carry out this  program  the  department  of
  state may:
    a.  Develop and promulgate orders, rules and regulations to effectuate
  the purposes of this section;
    b. Contract with  public  or  private  organizations  to  perform  the
  various  activities  required  by  this section, including construction,
  operation,  maintenance,  collection  of  fees  and  monitoring  of  the
  program;
    c.  Designate  employees  of  the  department  of  state  who shall be
  empowered  to  examine  the  records  of  such  contractors  as  to  the
  collection and expenditure of funds;
    d.  Apply  for,  accept  and  expend  any federal or other monies made
  available for the purposes of this section;
    e. Require and receive assistance from any agency of the state or  any
  political subdivision thereof in the furtherance of this program;
    f.  Act  as  the agent of the state, when required by this program, in
  arranging cooperative agreements with other states and Canada; and
    g. Set up an advisory committee  of  experts  and  representatives  of
  other public and private agencies to facilitate the program's execution.