§ 209-y. Establishment of hazardous materials emergency response
teams. 1. By resolution, the governing body of each county is authorized
to establish a hazardous materials emergency response team. Such teams
shall be coordinated in accordance with a plan developed pursuant to
section two hundred four-f of this chapter.

2. The governing bodies of two or more counties may by mutual
agreement form one or more regional hazardous materials emergency
response teams. Such regional teams shall be coordinated in accordance
with a plan developed pursuant to section two hundred four-f of this
chapter.

3. Counties are authorized to appropriate and expend such sums as are
deemed necessary to establish or maintain hazardous materials emergency
response teams pursuant to this section.

4. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, any
person who is by training or experience and attainment qualified to
participate as a member of a hazardous materials incidents response team
recognized under this section and who voluntarily and without
expectation of monetary compensation serves as a member of such team
shall not be subject to a penalty or to civil liability for damages or
injuries alleged to have been sustained by any person or entity by
reason of an act or omission in the course of such service. Nothing in
this section shall be deemed or construed to relieve from liability for
damages or injuries any person who (a) is alleged to have caused said
damages or injuries as the result of gross negligence or reckless,
wanton, or intentional conduct, (b) is under a legal duty to respond to
a particular incident, or (c) receives compensation other than
reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses for services in response to a
particular incident.