N.Y. Agriculture & Markets Law § 410: Establishment of animal response teams

§ 410. Establishment of animal response teams. 1. The commissioner is

hereby authorized to establish state and county animal response teams to

support the prevention of, preparedness for, response to, and recovery

from emergencies and disasters affecting animals in New York state. The

commissioner may appoint qualified volunteers to such teams which may

include appropriate state agency and specialty personnel and such other

personnel and volunteers he or she deems appropriate. For purposes of

this section, "qualified volunteer" shall mean a person who does not

receive compensation for his or her services, who is an active member of

an animal response team and has either been activated by directive of

the commissioner or is acting in an official capacity of the animal

response team pursuant to guidelines from the commissioner.

2. The commissioner shall be responsible for training such teams

established pursuant to this section to ensure response during

emergencies and disasters.

3. Individuals appointed to an animal response team shall be deemed

volunteer state employees for purposes of section seventeen of the

public officers law and section three of the workers' compensation law.

4. The commissioner shall promulgate rules and regulations relating to

the formation, training, appointing and activation of state and county

animal response teams established pursuant to this article, and is

authorized to solicit and accept funds from any public or private source

to help carry out the provisions of this article. Provided, however,

that the commissioner shall consult with state and local emergency

personnel relative to the activation of such animal response teams.