§ 548-e. Neighborhood based initiatives oversight committee. 1. Establishment. A neighborhood based initiatives oversight committee shall be established to oversee the implementation of the provisions of this article and shall consist of representatives of the following agencies or their designees, with the commissioner of the department or his or her designee serving as chairperson: the state advocate for the disabled; the director of the office for the aging; the director of the division of alcoholism and alcohol abuse; the executive director of the council on children and families; the chancellor of the city university of New York; the executive director of the developmental disabilities action planning council; the director of the budget; the commissioner of economic development; the commissioner of education; the commissioner of health; the commissioner of housing and community renewal; the commissioner of labor; the commissioner of mental health; the commissioner of mental retardation and developmental disabilities; the commissioner of parks, recreation and historic preservation; the chancellor of the state university of New York; the director of the division of substance abuse services; the director of the division for youth; the director of the division for women; and the department of audit and control.

2. Powers and duties. a. The committee shall develop guidelines for the operation of projects.

b. Upon request the appropriate members of the committee may provide technical assistance to applicants.

c. The committee shall review and approve applications using the following selection criteria:

i. the demonstrated commitment and support, including financial support, for the project expressed by local government agencies, community residents and leaders, appropriate service providers, and private supporters;

ii. demographic information that indicates significant incidences of poverty, unemployment, foster care, infant mortality, substance or alcohol abuse, adolescent pregnancy, or other indicators of need relevant to the action plan;

iii. the anticipated effectiveness of the project as evidenced by the existence of other available resources, including existing links between public and/or private agencies that focus on the provision of services in high-need geographic areas of populations;

iv. the ability of the applicant to undertake and complete a comprehensive project and develop an action plan; and

v. the ability of the applicant to provide the necessary data for an effective evaluation of the project.

d. The committee shall ensure, as far as practicable, the equitable distribution of projects among urban, suburban, and rural areas.

e. Members of the committee shall provide technical assistance on an on-going basis to approved projects, which shall include, but shall not be limited to: providing and analyzing data; assistance in strengthening the programmatic and administrative viability of approved projects; assistance in strengthening action plans; identifying federal, state and local funds, and resources from any other sources available to support such projects; and developing local evaluation systems.

f. To promote innovative approaches and maximize effective use of federal, state, and local monies, and, notwithstanding any other provision of law, the commissioner or director of any state agency on the committee may waive, subject to the approval of the director of the budget, for those persons, providers, and communities involved in a project, any of such agency's regulatory requirements that may impede the successful implementation of a project, provided that such waiver is consistent with applicable state and federal statutes and will not impair the general health or welfare of the people receiving services under such project or others. Such commissioner or director shall be authorized, in consultation with the director of the budget, to impose appropriate alternative standards in place of any waived requirements.

g. On the basis of information submitted in approved applications and in the action plan, the committee is required to:

i. assist in identifying and obtaining resources and funding necessary for the implementation of the action plan, and make recommendations as appropriate and necessary in accordance with article VII of the state constitution;

ii. identify and request the appropriate member or members of the committee to waive any regulations or procedures that act as barriers to the effective implementation of the action plan, as long as such waiver is consistent with paragraph e of this subdivision;

iii. identify any specific statutory requirements that are expected to impede the successful implementation of such projects and, when and if necessary, submit requests to the legislature in accordance with article VII of the state constitution for specific legislative enactments necessary to remove such impediments; and

iv. provide all other assistance needed for successful implementation of the action plan.

h. The committee shall ensure that there will be a maximum use of existing resources, services, and funds to support projects and that the purposes and objectives of this article will be accomplished effectively.

i. The committee shall monitor each approved project to ensure that services are provided in accordance with this article and that funds are used in accordance with applicable state and federal law and regulations.

j. The committee shall require such reports as may be necessary.