§ 78. Examination of domestic animals. 1. The commissioner shall
cause a physical examination and a tuberculin test to be made by
competent and authorized veterinarians of all bovine animals,
irrespective of age or sex, and cause all such bovine animals to be
subjected to periodic retests when deemed necessary by the commissioner.
The commissioner may also cause a physical examination and a tuberculin
test to be made by competent and authorized veterinarians of any
domestic animal or herds of domestic animals, irrespective of age or
sex, when deemed necessary in his or her judgment to prevent or suppress
disease. If, from such examination or test, any animal be deemed by the
commissioner to be infected with tuberculosis or any other communicable
disease or its condition be such as to render it undesirable for the
production of milk or meat, or a menace to the health of other animals
or persons, such animal shall be immediately removed from the herd,
slaughtered or otherwise disposed of as the commissioner may prescribe.

2. No person shall possess, maintain, transport, or otherwise handle
farmed deer except under conditions by which such animals are
biologically segregated from bovine animals in a manner prescribed by
the commissioner, provided however that such separation shall not be
required with respect to any farmed deer maintained under circumstances
where contact with bovine animals would not pose a threat to the state's
cattle population as determined by the commissioner pursuant to
regulation. For purposes of this subdivision: (a) "farmed deer" shall
mean members of family Cervidae which are raised or bred in confinement;
and (b) "bovine animals" shall mean cattle and bison. This subdivision
shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have
become a law.