In administering the provisions of this article the respective
commissioner or the secretary:
1. shall make an itemized estimate of funds or appropriations
requested annually for inclusion in the executive budget;
2. may, in the name of the state, as further provided within this
article, contract to make, within the limitations of appropriations
available therefor, state assistance payments to a municipality toward
the cost of a project approved and to be undertaken pursuant to this
article, or to a not-for-profit corporation toward the costs of a
project approved and to be undertaken pursuant to titles three and nine
of this article. Such contracts shall include provisions to maximize
awareness for the public that a source of funding for such project is
the New York state environmental protection fund. Such provisions shall
not require any expenditure of funds beyond that which the municipality
may decide if it communicates to the public regarding the project. Such
contracts shall be subject to approval by the state comptroller and, as
to form, by the attorney general;
3. may, in the name of the state, enter into contracts, within the
limitations of appropriations available therefor, with not-for-profit
corporations, public benefit corporations, and private contractors for
services contemplated by this article to be funded hereunder. Such
contracts shall include provisions to maximize awareness for the public
that a source of funding for such services is the New York state
environmental protection fund. Such provisions shall not require any
expenditure of funds beyond that which the not-for-profit corporations,
public benefit corporations, and private contractors may decide if it
communicates to the public regarding the project. Such contracts shall
be subject to approval by the state comptroller and, as to form, by the
attorney general;
4. shall approve vouchers for the payments pursuant to an approved
contract. All such payments shall be paid on the audit and warrant of
the state comptroller; and
5. may perform such other and further acts as may be necessary, proper
or desirable to carry out the provisions of this article.