§ 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.