(a) The commissioner or his authorized representative may receive, use, or distribute federal financial or technical assistance to support construction, research, staffing, or other programs or activities in mental health, developmental disabilities, alcoholism, or drug addiction appropriated under federal health, mental health, or developmental disabilities legislation or regulations or under other federal legislation or regulations which provide assistance to the mentally disabled, including but not limited to vocational rehabilitation programs, alcoholism programs, drug addiction programs, poverty programs, or special programs for children or the aged.

(b) The commissioner may promulgate rules and regulations to implement any provision of state or federal law involving the receipt, use, or disbursement of federal financial or technical assistance.

(c) The department of taxation and finance shall be the custodian of federal financial assistance granted or allocated to the department by the United States. Funds shall be paid out on the audit and warrant of the comptroller on the certificate of the commissioner or his authorized representative.

(d) Subject to the rules and regulations of the commissioner, any funds made available to the department by the United States or by another state agency as a federal allotment to be administered by the department may be disbursed by it to a local government, voluntary non-profit agency, educational agency, or person properly authorized to receive funds in fulfillment of the purposes of appropriate federal or state legislation for the provision of services, construction of facilities, research, staffing, training, or related programs or activities.