§371K-4  General duties of the office ofcommunity services.  The office of community services shall:

(1)  Establish statewide goals and objectives relatingto disadvantaged persons, refugees, and immigrants;

(2)  Study the facts concerning the needs of disadvantagedpersons, refugees, and immigrants in the State through adequate researchstudies, such research to be carried on whenever possible through thedepartments or agencies of the state and county governments responsible forproviding services in the fields of health, education, social welfare,employment, and related areas.  Where such research cannot be done within suchestablished agencies, it shall be carried out by this office or contracted bythis office;

(3)  Review legislation pertaining to programs withinthe purview of the office and appropriations made for services to thedisadvantaged, refugees, and immigrants, recommend revisions and additionsneeded, and report to the governor regarding such legislation;

(4)  Evaluate the availability, adequacy, andaccessibility of all services for the disadvantaged, refugees, and immigrantswithin the State;

(5)  Assist and coordinate the efforts of all publicand private agencies providing services which affect the disadvantaged,refugees, and immigrants including, without limitation to the generality of theforegoing, the department of health, the department of human services, thedepartment of labor and industrial relations, and the department of education,and report such facts and the office's recommendations to the governor and tothe legislature.  The executive heads of all such departments and agenciesshall make available to the office of community services such information asthe office deems necessary for the effective discharge of its duties under thischapter;

(6)  Maintain contacts with local, state, and federalofficials and public and private agencies concerned with planning for thedisadvantaged, refugees, and immigrants; and

(7)  Encourage and foster local action in behalf ofthe disadvantaged, refugees, and immigrants. [L 1985, c 305, pt of §1; am L1987, c 339, §4]