New York Laws
Article 13 - Office for People With Developmental Disabilities
13.01 - Declaration of Policy.

The state of New York and its local governments have a responsibility
for the prevention and early detection of developmental disabilities and
for the comprehensively planned provision of services including care,
treatment habilitation and rehabilitation of their citizens with
developmental disabilities.

Therefore, it shall be the policy of the state to conduct research and
to develop programs to further the prevention and early detection of
developmental disabilities; to develop a comprehensive, integrated
system of services which has as its primary purposes the promotion and
attainment of independence, inclusion, individuality and productivity
for persons with developmental disabilities; to serve the full range of
needs of persons with developmental disabilities by expanding the number
and types of community based services and developing new methods of
service delivery; and to improve the equity, effectiveness and
efficiency of services for persons with developmental disabilities by
serving persons in the community as well as those in developmental
centers, by improving the conditions in developmental centers, and by
establishing accountability for carrying out the policies of the state
with regard to such persons.

To accomplish these goals and meet the particular needs of individuals
with developmental disabilities, a new autonomous agency to be known as
the office for people with developmental disabilities has been
established. The office and its commissioner shall plan and work with
local governments and voluntary organizations and all providers of
services, and individuals with developmental disabilities and their
families and representatives, to develop an effective, integrated,
comprehensive system for the delivery of all necessary supports and
services to all individuals with developmental disabilities and to
create financing procedures and mechanisms to support such a system of
supports and services to ensure that all individuals with developmental
disabilities in need of supports and services receive appropriate and
timely supports and services close to their families and community. In
carrying out these responsibilities, the office and its commissioner
shall make full use of existing services in the community, including
those provided by voluntary and other service organizations, and within
annual amounts made available shall add in-home, residential and day
service and support capacity, to address the needs of individuals with
developmental disabilities.

Any provisions of this article which explicitly or implicitly apply
to, or reference, persons who are mentally retarded, shall be deemed to
apply to, or reference, persons with developmental disabilities.