§ 551 — The justice center for the protection of people with special needs

§ 551. The justice center for the protection of people with special\nneeds. 1. There is hereby created within the executive department a\njustice center for the protection of people with special needs ("justice\ncenter" or "center"). Such justice center shall be headed by an\nexecutive director, who shall be appointed by the governor, by and with\nthe advice and consent of the senate. The executive director may appoint\nstaff and perform such other functions for the efficient operation of\nthe justice center within the amounts made available therefor by\nappropriation.\n 2. The executive director shall recommend policies and procedures to\nthe state oversight agency for the protection of vulnerable persons,\nincluding but not limited to policies and procedures: (a) for the\nprotection of vulnerable persons who reside in or receive services from\nfacilities or provider agencies as set forth in subdivision four of\nsection four hundred eighty-eight of the social services law; (b)\nrelating to assuring, on behalf of the state, that vulnerable persons\nare afforded care that is of a uniformly high standard; (c) relating to\nassuring, on behalf of the state, that vulnerable persons are afforded\nthe opportunity to exercise all of the rights and responsibilities\naccorded to residents of the state; and (d) to harmonize and improve the\nprocedures for and quality of investigations of reportable incidents\ninvolving vulnerable persons within the different systems of care in the\nstate.\n 3. The executive director may, in consultation with the advisory\ncouncil, promulgate, adopt, amend or rescind rules and regulations\nnecessary to carry out the provisions of this article; provided,\nhowever, that such rules and regulations shall be strictly limited in\ntheir application to the means and methods of compliance with the\nprovisions of this article.\n