§ 561 — Advisory council

§ 561. Advisory council. 1. There shall be within the justice center\nan advisory council consisting of no less than fifteen members to be\nappointed by the governor, with the advice and consent of the senate.\nMembers shall be appointed on the basis of their professional and\npersonal knowledge in the care and treatment of and in the provision of\nservices, supports, and advocacy to and on behalf of service recipients,\nas defined in subdivision nine of section four hundred eighty-eight of\nthe social services law, and individuals with disabilities, or their\nactive interest in the system of services for such service recipients or\nindividuals with disabilities. In making such appointments, the governor\nshall endeavor to ensure the overall membership of the council\nadequately reflects the programs and services within the justice\ncenter's jurisdiction and that at least one-half of the members are\nindividuals or parents or relatives of individuals who are or have\nparticipated in or are or have been recipients of programs and services\nwithin the justice center's jurisdiction. The council shall include but\nshall not be limited to:\n (a) members of boards of visitors appointed pursuant to articles seven\nand thirteen of the mental hygiene law;\n (b) consumer representatives, including current or former service\nrecipients of an applicable facility or provider agency;\n (c) parents, relatives or guardians of such service recipients;\n (d) providers of services to vulnerable persons;\n (e) directors of facilities, community services or members of\ncommunity services boards;\n (f) current and former consumers of services for individuals with\nphysical disabilities;\n (g) members of organizations that advocate on behalf of vulnerable\npersons and individuals with disabilities; and\n (h) an employee of a facility or provider agency as defined in\nsubdivision four of section four hundred eighty-eight of the social\nservices law.\n 2. Members shall be appointed for terms of three years provided,\nhowever, that of the members first appointed, one-third shall be\nappointed for one-year terms and one-third shall be appointed for\ntwo-year terms. A member may be removed by the governor for good cause\nafter notice and an opportunity to be heard on the charges. Vacancies\nshall be filled in the same manner as original appointments for the\nremainder of any unexpired term.\n 3. The governor shall designate one member of the council as its chair\nto serve as such at the pleasure of the governor.\n 4. Council members shall not receive compensation, but each member\nshall be entitled to receive his or her reasonable and necessary\nexpenses incurred in connection with his or her services as a member\nwithin the amounts appropriated therefor.\n 5. The council shall have an executive secretary designated by the\nexecutive director of the justice center. The executive director may\nalso assign such other employees of the justice center as the council\nmay from time to time require to assist it in the performance of its\nduties.\n 6. The council shall advise and assist the justice center in\ndeveloping policies, proposed regulations, plans and programs to carry\nout its functions, powers and duties pursuant to this section. The\ncouncil may consider any matter related to improving the quality of life\nof citizens of the state who have disabilities and shall advise the\njustice center on any such matter.\n 7. The council shall meet at least four times a year. The council\nshall meet at the request of its chair or the executive director of the\njustice center.\n