New York Consolidated Laws, Agriculture and Markets Law - AGM § 105-e. Damage appraisal and report

The owner of a domestic animal which has died as a result of rabies shall immediately upon discovery thereof notify any assessor of the city or town where the death occurred of the fact thereof, and that he claims indemnity therefor, and requires that the damages be determined.  Such assessor, immediately upon receiving such notification, shall inquire into the matter.  If he deems it necessary, he shall examine witnesses in relation thereto.  No indemnification shall be paid unless there shall be presented to the assessor a report from a laboratory officially approved for rabies examination by the state commissioner of health, showing the presence of rabies in each animal for which indemnity is claimed.  If the assessor is satisfied that the animal or animals died of rabies, he shall determine the amount of the damages resulting therefrom and shall thereupon make a report in the form prescribed by the commissioner and shall state therein the amount of damages.  The report shall be signed by the assessor, one copy of which shall be accompanied by an official laboratory report showing the presence of rabies.  Two copies of the report shall be filed by the assessor in the office of the county treasurer, and a third copy shall be delivered by the assessor to the claimant.  The county treasurer shall immediately approve or disapprove the claim.  If he shall approve the claim, he shall endorse a copy of the report with a statement in accordance with the form prescribed by the commissioner certifying that the amount of the damage so reported by the assessor has been set aside by him for payment to the claimant from funds made available by the county for such purpose, and he shall immediately forward the copy of the report with such endorsement thereon to the commissioner.  Upon receipt of such report, the commissioner shall examine the same and may investigate the same on his own part.  The commissioner shall either confirm the amount of the damage reported by the assessor or modify it by such increase or decrease of the amount thereof as may appear proper and adequate in view of the facts and, if the facts so warrant, may disallow the same.  The decision of the commissioner shall be in writing, and a copy thereof shall be mailed to the county treasurer and to the claimant.