N.Y. Military Law § 52: Responsibility for public property

§ 52. Responsibility for public property. 1. Public property of the

state and of the United States shall be issued, kept, stored,

safeguarded, maintained, inventoried, inspected, surveyed and disposed

of; and responsibility and accountability for public property, liability

for the loss, damage or destruction thereof and relief from such

responsibility, accountability and liability shall be fixed and

determined by the chief of staff; as provided in applicable laws of the

United States, regulations issued thereunder or regulations issued

pursuant to this chapter.

2. When public property is lost, damaged or destroyed through the

negligence or fault of a member of the organized militia, the amount

determined as the value of such property or the cost of repairing the

same may be collected from any pay or allowance due or to become due him

from the state. Such amount may also be collected from the military fund

or other allowances payable by the state to the unit of the organized

militia to which such member belonged at the time such property was

lost, damaged or destroyed, or such amount may be deducted one-half in

successive calendar years from any fund, allowance or money due or to

become due such unit from the state.

3. An action may be maintained by the people of the state in any court

having jurisdiction thereof by the attorney-general upon the request of

the chief of staff to recover from a member or former member of the

organized militia found responsible for public property lost, damaged or

destroyed through his negligence or fault the amount determined as the

value of such property or the cost of repairing the same. Monies so

recovered shall be paid into the military fund of the unit to which such

member or former member belonged at the time such property was lost,

damaged or destroyed.