ยง 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.