N.Y. AGM Law § 73-B — New York Code / Act AGM / Article 5 / Section 73-B
The New York state veterinary diagnostic laboratory
Status: in_force

§ 73-b. The New York state veterinary diagnostic laboratory. 1. The\ncommissioner is authorized to establish and maintain, by contract or\notherwise, a New York state veterinary diagnostic laboratory and to\ncontract for other diagnostic services, as he or she may deem necessary\nor beneficial, to improve the health of food and fiber producing\nanimals, companion animals, sport and recreational animals, exotic\nanimals and wildlife.\n  2. The New York state veterinary diagnostic laboratory shall:\n  (a) evaluate domestic and wild animal populations for evidence of\ndisease agents that may cause human disease;\n  (b) maintain capability to respond to disease outbreaks in animals;\n  (c) establish diagnostic testing capabilities to establish herd health\nstatus and evaluation of disease programs;\n  (d) support disease surveillance and monitoring programs of domestic,\nzoo and wild animals;\n  (e) support veterinarians by analyzing and interpreting samples\nobtained from clinical cases; and\n  (f) evaluate, adjust and improve New York's ability to recognize\ndiseases that impact animal populations.\n  3. "The New York state veterinary diagnostic laboratory advisory\nboard" is hereby created. Such board shall be composed of ten members,\nas follows:\n  (a) the commissioner or his or her designee;\n  (b) the commissioner of environmental conservation or his or her\ndesignee;\n  (c) the commissioner of health or his or her designee;\n  (d) the dean of the New York state college of agriculture and life\nsciences or his or her designee;\n  (e) the director of the division of animal industry of the department;\n  (f) the director of the New York state veterinary diagnostic\nlaboratory, who shall serve as a non-voting member;\n  (g) one member to be appointed by the governor, upon recommendation by\nthe commissioner;\n  (h) one member to be appointed by the governor, upon recommendation by\nthe commissioner, from nominations received from a statewide\norganization representing dairy producers;\n  (i) one member to be appointed by the governor, upon recommendation by\nthe commissioner, from nominations received from a statewide\norganization representing veterinarians licensed in this state; and\n  (j) one member to be appointed by the governor, upon recommendation by\nthe commissioner, from nominations received from a statewide\norganization representing agricultural interests.\n  4. The appointed members of the veterinary diagnostic laboratory\nadvisory board shall be appointed for a term of three years and may\nserve until their successors are chosen provided, however, that of the\nmembers first appointed, two shall be appointed for a term of one year,\none shall be appointed for a term of two years and one shall be\nappointed for a term of three years. Members shall serve without salary,\nbut shall be entitled to actual expenses incurred while engaged in\nperforming the duties herein authorized.\n  5. The advisory board, which shall be chaired by the commissioner,\nshall:\n  (a) evaluate and prioritize the veterinary diagnostic laboratory needs\nof industry, government and consumer entities;\n  (b) provide advice and recommendations to the dean of the New York\nstate college of veterinary medicine for strategic direction of\ndiagnostic laboratory services;\n  (c) make recommendations to the dean regarding appointment of the\ndirector of the laboratory;\n  (d) assess the feasibility of the consolidation, expansion and\nmodernization of the current physical facilities of the laboratory;\n  (e) provide advice and recommendations to the director of the\ndiagnostic laboratory regarding industry needs and the effectiveness of\nveterinary diagnostic laboratory services; and\n  (f) provide advice and recommendations to the commissioner, the New\nYork state veterinarian, and the director of the diagnostic laboratory\nregarding animal health programs administered by the department, to\ninclude but not be limited to the New York state cattle health assurance\nprogram and the egg quality assurance program.\n  6. The director of the New York state veterinary diagnostic laboratory\nshall be appointed by the dean of the college of veterinary medicine,\nafter consultation with the advisory board. The dean shall provide\ndirection and guidance to the director to ensure that the resources of\nthe college of veterinary medicine are integrated with those of the\nlaboratory to meet current and anticipated industry, state and consumer\nneeds for diagnostic services.\n