§ 958. Lyme and tick-borne diseases working group. 1. There is hereby
created in the executive department a Lyme and tick-borne diseases
working group consisting of the:

(a) commissioner of health;

(b) commissioner of the office of mental health;

(c) commissioner of environmental conservation;

(d) superintendent of financial services, who shall serve ex officio
and who may designate representatives to act on their behalf; and

(e) six additional members to be appointed by the governor.

2. The governor shall also appoint eight members to the working group
on the recommendation of the legislative leaders as follows:

(a) the temporary president of the senate shall recommend three
members;

(b) the speaker of the assembly shall recommend three members;

(c) the minority leader of the senate shall recommend one member; and

(d) the minority leader of the assembly shall recommend one member.

3. Members appointed to the working group shall include, but not be
limited to, at least one of each of the following, each of whom must
have experience working with issues related to Lyme and tick-borne
diseases:

(a) an infectious disease specialist;

(b) a general practitioner;

(c) a mental health practitioner;

(d) an entomologist;

(e) an epidemiologist;

(f) a representative of health insurance providers; and

(g) a representative of a tick-borne disease advocacy organization.

4. The commissioner of health shall serve, ex officio, as the chair of
the working group, and the governor shall designate the vice chair of
the working group. In appointing members of the working group,
appointing authorities shall ensure that such members, as a group,
represent diverse scientific perspectives relevant to the duties of the
working group. The members of the working group, except those who serve
ex officio, shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses
incurred in the performance of their duties under this article but shall
receive no additional compensation for services rendered pursuant to
this article.

5. The working group, on call of the chair, shall meet at least twice
each year and at such other times as may be necessary. The working group
may establish quorum requirements and other rules and procedures
regarding conduct of its meetings and other affairs.

6. The working group shall have the following powers and
responsibilities:

(a) review current best practices for the diagnosis, treatment and
prevention of Lyme and tick-borne diseases, as well as any reports or
recommendations from the twenty-first century workgroup for disease
elimination and reduction, pursuant to section two hundred sixty-six of
the public health law;

(b) provide recommendations including, but not limited to:

(i) improvements to the delivery of care for patients and suspected
patients of Lyme and tick-borne diseases, particularly those from
endemic areas of the state;

(ii) collaborations among county departments of health to promote
effective strategies to combat Lyme and tick-borne diseases, including
best practices for prevention and reporting;

(iii) interagency collaborations to streamline state efforts to combat
the spread of Lyme and tick-borne diseases;

(iv) identifying opportunities to collaborate with the federal
government, non-profit entities, or private organizations on projects
addressing these diseases;

(v) data collection and reporting requirements of Lyme and tick-borne
disease, including but not limited to, those for healthcare providers;
and

(vi) any other regulations or guidelines concerning Lyme and
tick-borne diseases; and

(c) prepare and issue a report on the working group's findings and
recommendations by May first, two thousand twenty-three to the governor,
the temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly.

7. If any appointments to the working group are not made by April
fifteenth, two thousand nineteen, then the working group may proceed to
meet and fulfill its responsibilities, pursuant to paragraphs two and
three of this section, without such appointees.