[HISTORY: Adopted by the Suffolk County Legislature 8-26-1975 by L.L. No.
17-1975; amended in its entirety 8-28-2002 by L.L. No.
19-2002 (Ch. 78 of the 1985 Code). Subsequent amendments
noted where applicable. Uncodified sections of local laws amending
these provisions are included at the end of this chapter.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
The health, safety and welfare of the disabled residents of
the County of Suffolk are of great importance to the members of the
County Legislature as well as the citizens of the County of Suffolk.
The establishment of the Disabilities Advisory Board is a desirable
step in aiding, fostering and protecting the health, safety, welfare,
dignity and independence of the disabled residents of Suffolk County.
There shall be established in the County of Suffolk a Disabilities
Advisory Board.
A.
The Board shall consist of 31 members. These members are to be broken
up into the following four groups:
[Amended 3-19-2013 by L.L. No. 15-2013]
(1)
Group A.
(a)
Group A shall consist of:
[1]
The Commissioner of Social Services or a representative.
[2]
The Commissioner of Health Services or a representative.
[3]
The County Architect or a representative.
[4]
The Director of the Division of Transportation Operations in
the Department of Public Works or a representative.
[5]
The Commissioner of Labor or a representative.
[6]
The County Executive or a representative.
[7]
The Chairman of the Health Committee of the County Legislature
or a representative.
[8]
One other member of the County Legislature, to be appointed
by the Presiding Officer, or a representative.
[9]
The Executive Director of Human Rights or a representative.
[10]
The Commissioner of Parks, Recreation and Conservation or a
representative.
[11]
The Director of the Office of Community Development or a representative.
(b)
The members of Group A may appoint a representative to represent
them at the meetings of the Board.
(2)
Group B.
(a)
Group B shall consist of three independent members who shall
be chosen from the community.
(b)
These independent members must be residents of the County of
Suffolk and must be interested in fostering and protecting the health,
safety, welfare, dignity and independence of the disabled residents
of Suffolk County. These independent members of the Board shall be
appointed by the County Executive with the consent and approval of
the County Legislature for three-year terms.
(3)
Group C.
(a)
Group C shall consist of:
[1]
A representative of a rehabilitation agency.
[2]
A representative of BOCES.
[3]
A representative of public school special education.
[4]
A representative of the New York State Education Department's
Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with
Disabilities (VESID).
[5]
A representative of the Suffolk Independent Living Organization
(SILO).
(b)
The Group C members shall be appointed by the County Executive
with the consent and approval of the County Legislature for two-year
terms.
(4)
Group D.
(a)
Group D shall consist of 12 residents of Suffolk County who
are either parents of children who are disabled or who have a disabling
condition themselves.
(b)
Six of the Group D members shall be appointed by the County
Executive with the consent and approval of the County Legislature
for two-year terms. Six of the Group D members shall be appointed
by the County Legislature for two-year terms by duly enacted resolution.
[Amended 8-16-2011 by L.L. No. 42-2011]
B.
The members of the Board shall serve without compensation, but the
members of Group D who have a disabling condition shall be allowed
their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of
their duties.
A.
The Board shall meet and organize within 15 days of its members being
appointed.
B.
The Board shall elect annually from the members of Groups B, C and
D a Chairman and Secretary.
C.
The Board shall adopt its own rules of conduct in conducting its
meetings.
D.
The Board shall work closely with the various disabled groups and
organizations throughout the County.
E.
The Board shall serve in an advisory capacity to the County Executive
and to the County Legislature on the needs and concerns of the disabled
residents of the County of Suffolk and have the power to create committees
or suggest referrals to County departments and the tasks of research
regarding substantiation of need or means of program implementation.
The areas of concern shall include, but are in no way limited to:
F.
The Board shall provide employment information and placement in all
forms of and levels of government employment.
G.
The Board shall aid in obtaining qualifications for civil service
employment.
H.
The Board shall work closely with all levels of government, County,
town, village and school districts, in finding employment for the
disabled.
I.
The Board shall meet at least once a month and shall keep an open
line of communication to the Health Committee of the County Legislature,
or any successor committee thereto, and shall annually submit a report
as to its activities to the entire County Legislature and to the County
Executive.
