Service centers for independent living; purpose and duties

§ 1121. Service centers for independent living; purpose and duties. 1. A service center for independent living shall be a community based non-residential program designed to promote independent living for persons with disabilities.

(a) Such center shall:

(i) be a private not-for-profit corporation, pursuant to subdivision five of paragraph a of section one hundred two of the not-for-profit corporation law; provided, however, that persons with disabilities comprise at least fifty-one percent of the membership of the board of directors;

(ii) be staffed by persons experienced in assisting persons with disabilities;

(iii) provide services designed to meet the needs of persons with disabilities, including such services as assisting persons with disabilities to obtain housing, employment referral, transportation referral, attendant care, independent living skills, peer counseling, advocacy services, job training, health care, homemaker services, and other such services as approved by the commissioner;

(iv) train personnel for the purpose of attendant care in assisting and serving persons with disabilities; and

(v) serve persons with disabilities.

(b) Such center may also, but need not limit itself to, provide disability awareness programs, peer counseling, role modeling and any other appropriate services within elementary and secondary schools.

2. Such service centers shall not be established or operated as a residential or housing facility.

3. Such service centers shall make maximum use of existing resources available to persons with disabilities and shall not duplicate any existing services or programs, to the extent that such services or programs are available through other state sources to meet the needs of persons with disabilities. Such centers shall however provide necessary information and referral to assist a person with a disability in obtaining such services and coordinate where possible the delivery of such services to persons with disabilities.

4. Such service centers shall be in compliance with all applicable local laws and ordinances.