§ 4-b. Chief disability officer. 1. Persons with disabilities comprise a major segment of the state of New York's population and their particular needs and concerns must be considered as an integral part of the planning and implementation of all state programs and services affecting their lives and well-being. The office of the chief disability officer shall advocate on behalf of persons with disabilities and ensure that persons with disabilities are afforded the opportunity to exercise all of the rights and responsibilities accorded to citizens of this state.

2. For purposes of this article:

(a) "Persons with disabilities" shall mean any person who has a disability as defined in subdivision twenty-one of section two hundred ninety-two of this chapter.

(b) "State agency" or "state agencies" shall mean any state department, board, bureau, division, commission, committee, public authority, public corporation, council, office or other governmental entity performing a governmental or proprietary function for the state, except the judiciary or the state legislature.

3. (a) The governor shall appoint a chief disability officer. The chief disability officer shall advise and assist state agencies in developing policies designed to help meet the needs of persons with disabilities. The chief disability officer shall be appointed by the governor and receive a salary to be fixed by the governor within the amounts appropriated therefor.

(b) The chief disability officer shall: (i) be the state's coordinator for the implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act; (ii) coordinate state activities to ensure that state programs do not discriminate against and are accessible to persons with disabilities; (iii) ensure that such programs provide services to individuals with disabilities in the most integrated setting appropriate to their needs; and (iv) work with state agencies to develop legislation and potential regulatory changes to help effectuate the duties and responsibilities required in this article, and any other changes that may significantly affect the lives of persons with disabilities in the state.

(c) The chief disability officer shall, to the extent practicable, review and report to the governor upon proposed legislation and regulations. The chief disability officer shall submit comments, where appropriate, to the state agency which referred such proposed legislation and regulations evaluating: (i) the impact of the proposed legislation or regulation upon persons with disabilities; (ii) the relationship and impact of such proposed legislation or regulation on existing programs affecting persons with disabilities; and (iii) any modifications that would help persons with disabilities or aid in the implementation of the new proposal. All state agencies shall cooperate with the chief disability officer to ensure that the chief disability officer is able to fulfill the requirements under this section.