2006 New York Code - Declaration Of Purpose.

 
    § 480. Declaration  of  purpose.  The legislature finds and determines
  that:
    1. The public  perception  of  the  state's  rural  regions  has  been
  characterized  by  inaccurate awareness or understanding; therefore many
  existing laws, regulations, policies and programs  have  not  completely
  addressed  the  real  needs  of  people  living within the state's rural
  environs.
    2. The state's rural territory is vast in size, exceptionally diverse,
  possesses abundant natural and cultural resources,  and,  together  with
  its  economic, human and community resources, contributes greatly to the
  quality and maintenance of life of all people of the state, and hence to
  a healthier, more prosperous state.
    3. The  state's  rural  areas  are  decentralized  and  unique;  their
  enhancement  and  protection  require  special  attention  in  order  to
  effectively address distinct rural conditions, needs, and strengths.
    4. Improvement in the well-being of individuals and  families  in  the
  state's  rural  areas  has,  in  many  instances,  been  unbalanced, and
  characterized  by  a  growing  inequality   or   relative   deprivation.
  Additionally,  such  indispensable  community  needs  as transportation;
  housing;  public  facilities;  business  and  industry;  education   and
  culture;  governmental  and  environmental  management; health and human
  services; require further study and state action if proper responses  to
  unique rural needs are to be developed.
    5.  The  state  has  demonstrated  sensitivity  to  the needs of rural
  localities and has attempted to preserve the viability  and  quality  of
  life  in  rural  areas.    Such  commitments  to  rural preservation and
  development have to be continued and broadened to encompass a wide range
  of rural endeavors.
    6. Federal, state, and local resources and individual effort available
  to address rural needs are often  isolated  and  limited  to  individual
  symptoms  of  blight  and deterioration. Related programs are frequently
  inaccessible  to  rural  residents  they  are  designed  to  serve.  The
  placement  of such programs within the various organizational structures
  is indistinct and many  rural  localities  have  inadequate  numbers  of
  managerial,   professional   or   technical  personnel  to  pursue  such
  assistance.  Additionally, many public and private  agencies  also  lack
  adequate  staffing  to  adapt programs and services to the special needs
  and requirements of rural citizens and their  environs.  This  situation
  has  contributed  to  a  growing confusion and disintegrating force that
  discourages coordinated individual policy and  program  development  and
  delivery  of  services intended to address the needs of rural localities
  and citizens. Consequently, the  energies  and  resources  of  the  many
  individual federal, state, and local, and public and private initiatives
  that  could  help  answer rural needs and capitalize on the strengths of
  rural areas, are often frustrated or diminished in their effect.
    7. An important role and challenge for state government, therefore, is
  to get diverse groups to work together for the betterment of  rural  New
  York,  and  to combine their efforts in imaginative ways to the end that
  all regions of the state may always offer the highest  possible  quality
  of  life, cultural and material standards of living, without sacrificing
  individual freedom or responsibility. The legislature believes that such
  individual efforts  can  be  significantly  enhanced,  and  support  and
  sustain  each  other  in  the  public  interest;  and  many  useful  and
  innovative responses to rural needs will be possible, if a more  focused
  and coordinated interdisciplinary approach for addressing rural problems
  and opportunities is made available through state government.
    8.  The  development of proper responses to rural needs, including the
  capability to anticipate and respond to  individual  needs  on  a  broad
  scale,  would  also  be promoted if a more sharply defined rural affairs
  avenue within state  government  was  made  available  to  policymakers.
  Specifically,  the  legislature seeks to amplify the efforts of existing
  agencies  and  individuals who are interested in such rural policy areas
  as human services and community life; health care; education;  business,
  economic  development,  and  employment;  agriculture; environment, land
  use,  and  natural  resources;  transportation;  community   facilities,
  housing, and community revitalization; local government and management.
    9.  No permanent state agency has been specifically created, empowered
  and funded to promote, harmonize or  assist  such  efforts  of  existing
  agencies  and individuals that address the unique needs, conditions, and
  strengths of rural areas of the state. It is, therefore, the  intent  of
  the  legislature  to  create a state office of rural affairs. The agency
  shall serve as a one-stop contact point for rural  governments,  service
  providers, state and federal agencies, and for individuals interested in
  rural  policies  and  programs  of  the  state;  and  strive  to promote
  cooperative and integrated efforts among such agencies and programs that
  are designed to address rural needs; and shall recommend to the governor
  and the legislature the suitable use of policies,  programs,  long-range
  plans, laws and regulatory mechanisms in order to meet such needs.