New York Consolidated Laws, Mental Hygiene Law - MHY § 41.05 Local governmental unit

(a) To be eligible for state aid pursuant to this chapter, a local government shall establish a local governmental unit, which shall be an identifiable entity within the local government.

(b) Each local governmental unit shall have a community services board for services to individuals with mental illness, developmental disabilities and those suffering from alcoholism and substance abuse which shall have separate subcommittees for mental health, developmental disabilities, and alcoholism, except that, at the discretion of the local government, a subcommittee for alcoholism and substance abuse may be substituted for a subcommittee for alcoholism.

(c) Each local governmental unit shall have a director who shall be its chief executive officer.  Charter governments may vest policy-making functions in the director or they may vest all or some of such functions in the board.  In all other cases, the policy-making functions shall vest in the board.

(d) Applications to the state for aid pursuant to this chapter shall be made by the respective local governmental units, except that an application for capital costs may be made by a voluntary agency in accordance with the provisions of this article.

(e) Each local governmental unit shall direct and administer a local comprehensive planning process for its geographic area, consistent with established statewide goals and objectives.  All providers of services and department facilities shall participate in and provide information for this planning process.  The department shall provide technical assistance as may be requested by such local governmental units, within available resources.