Section 96-N. Task force on the slaughter of non-ambulatory animals

1.
  The task force on the slaughter  of  non-ambulatory  animals  is  hereby
  created  to  examine,  evaluate,  and determine the most effective state
  actions to prevent the  slaughter  of  non-ambulatory  animals  and  the
  entrance of the meat of non-ambulatory animals to the food supply of New
  York state.
    2.  Such  task  force  shall  consist of eleven members, each to serve
  until January  fifteenth,  two  thousand  ten.  Such  members  shall  be
  appointed  as follows: two shall be appointed by the governor; two shall
  be appointed by the temporary president of  the  senate;  two  shall  be
  appointed  by the speaker of the assembly; one shall be appointed by the
  minority leader of the  senate;  and  one  shall  be  appointed  by  the
  minority  leader  of  the  assembly;  provided  that at least one member
  appointed above represents an agricultural  organization  based  in  New
  York  state  that  represents meat processors, one member represents New
  York state based retailers which sell meat to  the  public,  one  member
  represents  an  organization  based  in  New York state dedicated to the
  humane treatment of and prevention of cruelty to animals, and one member
  represents  an  organization  representing   veterinary   professionals,
  including   large  animal  veterinarians,  active  in  New  York  state.
  Additional members shall be the commissioner,  the  chairperson  of  the
  consumer  protection  board  and  the  commissioner  of  health or their
  designees. Appointments shall be made within sixty days of the effective
  date of this section. Vacancies in the task force shall be filled in the
  manner provided for original appointments.
    3. The task force shall be chaired by the commissioner or his  or  her
  designee.  The  task  force shall elect a vice-chair and other necessary
  officers from among all appointed members. A majority of the members  of
  the  task  force  then  in  office  shall  constitute  a  quorum for the
  transaction of business or the exercise of any power or function of  the
  task  force.  An  act,  determination or decision of the majority of the
  members present during the presence of a quorum shall be held to be  the
  act, determination, or decision of the task force.
    4.  The  task  force  shall meet at least quarterly at the call of the
  chair. Meetings may be held via teleconference. Special meetings may  be
  called  by  the chair at the request of a majority of the members of the
  task force. Members of the task force shall receive no compensation  for
  their  services  but  shall  be  reimbursed  for  their  actual expenses
  incurred in the performance of their duties in  the  work  of  the  task
  force.
    5. The task force established shall:
    (a)  identify,  study  and  determine  the  public  health  and safety
  concerns associated  with  the  potential  slaughter  of  non-ambulatory
  animals  in  the  state  of  New  York  and  the  entry  of  the meat of
  non-ambulatory animals into the food supply in a manner consistent  with
  the  humane  treatment of such non-ambulatory animals, including but not
  limited to the operation and inspection of  slaughterhouses  within  the
  state,  the  inspection  of  meat processed out of state and transported
  into New York state,  the  use  of  coercive  techniques  or  mechanical
  devices  to compel movement out of otherwise non-ambulatory animals, the
  appropriate definition of a non-ambulatory animal  in  relation  to  the
  ability  of  the animal to stand and/or walk unassisted or assisted, the
  public auction or other wholesale or retail sale of  meat  in  New  York
  state, and the method and quality of veterinary treatment, euthanization
  and   sequestration  of  non-ambulatory  animals  once  they  have  been
  identified and any potential infectious risk to nearby animals;
    (b) evaluate what state actions shall be taken,  whether  legislative,
  regulatory, or intergovernmental, to ensure the public health and safety

  of  the  people  of  New  York  in  a  manner consistent with the humane
  treatment of such non-ambulatory animals in  relation  to  the  concerns
  identified in paragraph (a) of this subdivision; and
    (c)  prepare  a  report identifying policy options and recommendations
  regarding legislation or regulations required to resolve  public  health
  and  safety  concerns consistent with the humane treatment of animals as
  identified by paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subdivision.
    6. The task force may establish such advisory committees as  it  deems
  appropriate  on  matters  relating to the task force's functions, powers
  and duties. Such committees shall be chaired by a task force member, but
  may be composed of task force  members  as  well  as  other  individuals
  selected  by the task force to provide expertise of interest specific to
  the charge of such committee.
    7. The department shall provide the task force with  such  facilities,
  assistance  and  data  as  will  enable  the task force to carry out its
  powers and duties. Additionally, all other  agencies  of  the  state  or
  subdivisions  thereof  shall,  at  the request of the chair provided the
  task force with such facilities, assistance, and data as will enable the
  task force to carry out its powers and duties.
    8. The  task  force  shall  make  a  final  report  of  its  findings,
  conclusions,  recommendations  and  activities already undertaken by the
  task force, not later than January fifteenth, two thousand ten and shall
  submit with its reports legislative and regulatory proposals as it deems
  necessary to implement its recommendations.
    * NB Repealed January 15, 2010