NY Agric & Mkts L § 73-B (2021)
2021 New York Laws AGM - Agriculture and Markets Article 5 - Diseases of Domestic Animals; Calves and Veal; Pure Bred Stock; Certificates of Registry. 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.