BILL NUMBER: S6713

SPONSOR: HINCHEY
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to animal
response teams

1.   
PURPOSE:

Add Section 411 to the Article 26-B of the Agriculture and Markets Law
to authorize the Commissioner to enter Into agreements with animal
welfare organizations, which can be deployed, if needed, in emergencies
and disasters affecting animals as part of the state's emergency
response. With the increased incidence of natural and other disasters
that threaten the lives of humans, wildlife, livestock and pets, the
state needs the authority to partner with and integrate credentialed
non-governmental agencies into its emergency response.  Also, amend the
title of the Article to reflect the addition of the new Section 411.

2.   
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
              

A new section 411 would be added to Article 26-B to provide the Commis-
sioner with authority to enter into agreements with animal welfare
organizations to support the prevention of, preparedness for, response
to, and recovery from emergencies and disasters affecting animals in New
York state. The title of Article 26-B Wad also be amended to specify the
emergency nature of the sections located therein.

3.   
EXISTING LAW:

Section 410 of Article 26-B (Animal Response Teams) authorizes the
commissioner to establish response teams to address animal issues during
emergencies and disasters and appointment of qualified volunteers to
those teams.

4.   
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

A.10531 (Lupardo) was introduced and referred to the Committee on Agri-
culture on 5/28/2020. This bill is substantially the same.

5.   
STATEMENT IN SUPPORT:

WITH THE INCREASED INCIDENCE OF NATURAL AND OTHER DISASTERS THAT THREAT-
EN THE LIVES OF HUMANS, WILDLIFE, LIVESTOCK AND PETS, THE STATE NEEDS
THE AUTHORITY TO PARTNER WITH AND INTEGRATE CREDENTIALED NON-GOVERNMEN-
TAL AGENCIES INTO ITS EMERGENCY RESPONSE. THE ABSENCE OF STATUTORY
AUTHORITY FOR THE DEPARTMENT TO ENTER INTO AGREEMENTS WITH ANIMAL
WELFARE ORGANIZATIONS TO ASSIST WHEN NEEDED THREATENS THE STATE'S, ABIL-
ITY TO OBTAIN THE ASSISTANCE OF AND INTEGRATE THOSE ORGANIZATIONS'
EFFORTS INTO THE STATE'S EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT RESPONSE.

6.   
POSSIBLE OBJECTIONS:

THERE IS NO KNOWN OPPOSITION.

7.   
OTHER STATE AGENCIES INTERESTED:

DHSES, DIVISION OF STATE POLICE, DEC
8.   
KNOWN POSITION OF OTHERS:

UNKNOWN.

9.   
BUDGET:

NONE IN CONNECTION WITH OBTAINING AUTHORITY TO CONTRACT WITH, ANIMAL
WELFARE ORGANIZATIONS. IN NEGOTIATING SUCH AGREEMENTS, THE STATE MAY BE
ASKED TO INDEMNIFY THE ORGANIZATION SHOULD CLAIMS BE ASSERTED IN
CONNECTION WITH ITS PARTICIPATION IN THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE, GIVING RISE
TO POSSIBLE CONTINGENT LIABILITIES.

10.   
LOCAL IMPACT:

THIS BILL WOULD NOT IMPOSE A MANDATE ON A COUNTY, CITY, TOWN, VILLAGE,
SCHOOL DISTRICT OR SPECIAL DISTRICT