WHEREAS, the New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities ("IBR") is a research institute located within the New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities charged with conducting medical research and other scientific investigation directed towards furthering knowledge of the etiology, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mental retardation and developmental disabilities;
WHEREAS, the State is facing unprecedented fiscal challenges, which require a broad reevaluation of programmatic priorities in all State agencies; and
WHEREAS, it is appropriate to review the future of IBR, including its responsibilities, funding and the auspices under which it operates;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE E. PATAKI, Governor of the State of New York, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and Laws of the State of New York, do hereby order as follows:
I. Task Force on the Institute for Basic Research. There is hereby established the Task Force on the Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities (the "Task Force") to be comprised of up to fifteen members, who shall be appointed by, and serve at the pleasure of, the Governor. The members of the Task Force shall include:
(i) a person employed by IBR;(ii) the parent of a child who attends the clinic at IBR;(iii) a person appointed on the recommendation of the Temporary President of the State Senate;(iv) a person appointed on the recommendation of the Speaker of the State Assembly;(v) a person appointed on the recommendation of the President of the N.Y.S. AFL-CIO;(vi) the Commissioner of the Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities or his designee;(vii) the Commissioner of Health or her designee;(viii) the Director of the Budget or her designee;(ix) the Commissioner of Economic Development or his designee;(x) the Commissioner of the Office of General Services or his designee; and(xi) the Director of the Governor's Office of Employee Relations or his designee. The Governor shall designate the Chair of the Task Force from among its members. The members of the Task Force shall receive no compensation but shall be entitled to reimbursement for any necessary expenses incurred in connection with the performance of their duties.II. Responsibilities and Powers. A. The Task Force shall be responsible for: (1) Evaluating the continuing need for New York State to directly operate a facility to conduct medical research and other scientific investigation directed towards furthering knowledge of the etiology, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mental retardation and developmental disabilities;(2) Evaluating the record of IBR in meeting that need;(3) Evaluating the ability of the Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities to continue to support the sort of basic research undertaken at IBR in light of the current fiscal climate and its other obligations to provide direct services to individuals with mental retardation or other developmental disabilities and their families;(4) Investigating the possibility of obtaining funding for IBR from other sources;(5) Investigating the auspices under which IBR operates, and the need and ability to reconstitute IBR to operate under different auspices or close IBR entirely; and(6) Evaluating the impact of any such reconstitution or closure on the State workforce and local economy, and the possible strategies to minimize any negative impact.B. The Task Force shall issue a report to the Governor and the Legislature no later than January 1, 2004, setting forth its findings and recommendations.C. The Task Force is authorized to call upon any agency, department, office, division, or public authority of this State to supply it with such data and other resources, personnel and assistance as the Task Force deems necessary to discharge the responsibilities conferred upon it by this Order.D. Each agency, department, office, division, and public authority of this State is hereby directed to cooperate with the Task Force and to furnish the Task Force with such information, personnel, and assistance as the Task Force deems necessary to accomplish the purposes of this Order. Signed: George E. PatakiDated: July 29, 2003
[FN*] [Revoked by Executive Order No. 5 (Eliot Spitzer), infra.]
[Revoked by Executive Order No. 9 (David A. Paterson), infra.]
[Revoked by Executive Order No. 2 (Andrew M. Cuomo), infra.]
N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. Tit. 9 § 5.129