N.Y. Agriculture & Markets Law § 73-b: The New York state veterinary diagnostic laboratory

§ 73-b. The New York state veterinary diagnostic laboratory. 1. The

commissioner is authorized to establish and maintain, by contract or

otherwise, a New York state veterinary diagnostic laboratory and to

contract for other diagnostic services, as he or she may deem necessary

or beneficial, to improve the health of food and fiber producing

animals, companion animals, sport and recreational animals, exotic

animals and wildlife.

2. The New York state veterinary diagnostic laboratory shall:

(a) evaluate domestic and wild animal populations for evidence of

disease agents that may cause human disease;

(b) maintain capability to respond to disease outbreaks in animals;

(c) establish diagnostic testing capabilities to establish herd health

status and evaluation of disease programs;

(d) support disease surveillance and monitoring programs of domestic,

zoo and wild animals;

(e) support veterinarians by analyzing and interpreting samples

obtained from clinical cases; and

(f) evaluate, adjust and improve New York's ability to recognize

diseases that impact animal populations.

3. "The New York state veterinary diagnostic laboratory advisory

board" is hereby created. Such board shall be composed of ten members,

as follows:

(a) the commissioner or his or her designee;

(b) the commissioner of environmental conservation or his or her

designee;

(c) the commissioner of health or his or her designee;

(d) the dean of the New York state college of agriculture and life

sciences or his or her designee;

(e) the director of the division of animal industry of the department;

(f) the director of the New York state veterinary diagnostic

laboratory, who shall serve as a non-voting member;

(g) one member to be appointed by the governor, upon recommendation by

the commissioner;

(h) one member to be appointed by the governor, upon recommendation by

the commissioner, from nominations received from a statewide

organization representing dairy producers;

(i) one member to be appointed by the governor, upon recommendation by

the commissioner, from nominations received from a statewide

organization representing veterinarians licensed in this state; and

(j) one member to be appointed by the governor, upon recommendation by

the commissioner, from nominations received from a statewide

organization representing agricultural interests.

4. The appointed members of the veterinary diagnostic laboratory

advisory board shall be appointed for a term of three years and may

serve until their successors are chosen provided, however, that of the

members first appointed, two shall be appointed for a term of one year,

one shall be appointed for a term of two years and one shall be

appointed for a term of three years. Members shall serve without salary,

but shall be entitled to actual expenses incurred while engaged in

performing the duties herein authorized.

5. The advisory board, which shall be chaired by the commissioner,

shall:

(a) evaluate and prioritize the veterinary diagnostic laboratory needs

of industry, government and consumer entities;

(b) provide advice and recommendations to the dean of the New York

state college of veterinary medicine for strategic direction of

diagnostic laboratory services;

(c) make recommendations to the dean regarding appointment of the

director of the laboratory;

(d) assess the feasibility of the consolidation, expansion and

modernization of the current physical facilities of the laboratory;

(e) provide advice and recommendations to the director of the

diagnostic laboratory regarding industry needs and the effectiveness of

veterinary diagnostic laboratory services; and

(f) provide advice and recommendations to the commissioner, the New

York state veterinarian, and the director of the diagnostic laboratory

regarding animal health programs administered by the department, to

include but not be limited to the New York state cattle health assurance

program and the egg quality assurance program.

6. The director of the New York state veterinary diagnostic laboratory

shall be appointed by the dean of the college of veterinary medicine,

after consultation with the advisory board. The dean shall provide

direction and guidance to the director to ensure that the resources of

the college of veterinary medicine are integrated with those of the

laboratory to meet current and anticipated industry, state and consumer

needs for diagnostic services.