N.Y. MHY Law § 33.28

§ 33.28 Independent developmental disability ombudsman program.\n (a) There is hereby established by the office for people with\ndevelopmental disabilities the independent developmental disability\nombudsman program for the purpose of assisting individuals with\ndevelopmental disabilities to access services and preserve their rights.\n (b) Such ombudsman program shall have the following duties, including,\nbut not limited to identifying, investigating, referring and resolving\ncomplaints that are made by, or on behalf of individuals relative to\naccess to services provided by the office for people with developmental\ndisabilities or care coordination or other providers certified and/or\nauthorized by the office to provide services to people with\ndevelopmental disabilities, and access to initial and continuing\nintellectual and developmental disability services and supports.\n (c) Notices and materials provided to individuals by the office for\npeople with developmental disabilities, providers of services, and the\nhealth homes serving individuals with developmental disabilities shall\ninclude the name, phone number and website address of the independent\ndevelopmental disability ombudsman program established by the office for\npeople with developmental disabilities pursuant to this section. The\nphone number shall be available for forty hours every week.\n (d) Funds available for expenditure pursuant to this section for the\nestablishment of an independent developmental disability ombudsman\nprogram may be allocated and distributed by the commissioner of the\noffice for people with developmental disabilities, subject to the\napproval of the director of the budget, but only after the commissioner\nof the office for people with developmental disabilities holds a request\nfor proposal process for the establishment of an independent\ndevelopmental disability ombudsman program. The commissioner of the\noffice for people with developmental disabilities shall consider all\ncompetitive proposals submitted through such request for proposal\nprocess and shall determine which proposal submitted is appropriate for\nthe establishment of an independent developmental disability ombudsman\nprogram. In making such determination, applicants who demonstrate\nexperience providing advocacy or assistance to people with developmental\ndisabilities, or experience tracking and reporting on case activities\nwhile protecting individual confidentiality shall receive deference for\nthe award.\n