Institutions of the State University of New York (SUNY), City University of New York (CUNY), and degree-granting institutions in New York that are currently funded by the Arthur O. Eve Higher Education Opportunity Program pursuant to section 6451 of the Education Law for the purposes of providing additional services and expenses to expand opportunities for foster youth may apply for funding pursuant to this section.

(b) Applications shall be submitted to the commissioner, on forms prescribed by the commissioner, for approval by October 1st of each year, and must set forth the need for such funds, including how the funds would be used and the exact number of foster youth that would be assisted with such funds.

(c) Applications from institutions of the State University of New York shall be coordinated through the SUNY System Administration and forwarded to the department for review and approval by the commissioner. Applications from institutions in the City University of New York system shall be coordinated through the CUNY Central Administration and forwarded to the department for review and approval by the commissioner. Other applications from eligible applicants as set forth in this section shall be submitted directly by the institution to the department for review and approval by the commissioner.