New York Laws
Article 13 - Office for People With Developmental Disabilities
13.17 - Programs, Services, and Operations in the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities.

(a) The commissioner shall establish policy and procedures for the
organization, administration, and service delivery system under his or
her jurisdiction and shall make provision for the effective rendition of
supports and services to individuals with developmental disabilities.
(b) There shall be, within the state operations offices of the office,
the developmental disabilities services offices named below serving the
areas either currently or previously served by a school, for the care
and treatment of persons with developmental disabilities and for
research and teaching in the science and skills required for the care
and treatment of such persons with developmental disabilities:
Bernard M. Fineson Developmental Disabilities Services Office
Brooklyn Developmental Disabilities Services Office
Broome Developmental Disabilities Services Office
Capital District Developmental Disabilities Services Office
Central New York Developmental Disabilities Services Office
Finger Lakes Developmental Disabilities Services Office
Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities
Hudson Valley Developmental Disabilities Services Office
Metro New York Developmental Disabilities Services Office
Long Island Developmental Disabilities Services Office
Sunmount Developmental Disabilities Services Office
Taconic Developmental Disabilities Services Office
Western New York Developmental Disabilities Services Office
Staten Island Developmental Disabilities Services Office
The New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental
Disabilities is designated as an institute for the conduct of medical
research and other scientific investigation directed towards furthering
knowledge of the etiology, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of
developmental disabilities.
(c) The commissioner shall establish, at his or her discretion,
developmental disabilities regional offices and shall establish state
operations offices that provide for the direct delivery of supports and
services by the office for people with developmental disabilities.
(c) The commissioner may authorize other offices of the department and
any public or private non-profit organization or political subdivision
of the state to deliver supports and services to individuals with
developmental disabilities, not inconsistent with the programs and
objectives of the office in any facility under his jurisdiction. The
commissioner may permit any facility under his jurisdiction to operate
programs for persons with mental disabilities, not inconsistent with
programs and objectives of the department, under contracts or agreements
with other offices within the department.
* (d) In the event of a closure or transfer of a state-operated
individualized residential alternative (IRA), the commissioner shall:
1. provide appropriate and timely notification to the temporary
president of the senate, and the speaker of the assembly, and to
appropriate representatives of impacted labor organizations. Such
notification to the representatives of impacted labor organizations
shall be made as soon as practicable, but no less than ninety days prior
to such closure or transfer except in the case of exigent circumstances
impacting the health, safety, or welfare of the residents of the IRA as
determined by the office. Provided, however, that nothing herein shall
limit the ability of the office to effectuate such closure or transfer;
and
2. make reasonable efforts to confer with the affected workforce and
any other party he or she deems appropriate to inform such affected

workforce, the residents of the IRA, and their family members, where
appropriate, of the proposed closure or transfer plan.
* NB Repealed March 31, 2024