480 - 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  broadscale,  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.