§ 224-b. Cooperative extension area and statewide program specialist.
1. Agreements to employ and manage area program specialists.
Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision eight of section two
hundred twenty-four of this article, two or more county cooperative
extension associations may enter into a separate agreement with Cornell
university to employ area program specialists. Examples of program areas
which could be funded and delivered through the Cornell cooperative
extension system could include but not be limited to water quality,
solid waste management, commercial and alternative agricultural
technologies integrated pest management, nutrition, diet and health,
adult and childhood obesity, asthma and chronic respiratory illness
prevention, community and rural development, housing availability and
affordability, family and economic well being, and the complex problems
of youth at risk. Such annual agreements shall identify the titles of
the positions to be supported and the program areas for which they will
provide leadership. Standards for the employment of area program
specialists, including salaries, shall be established by Cornell
university, through the director of extension in consultation with
county cooperative extension associations, apart from standards for the
employment of professional staff under section two hundred twenty-four
of this article. Area program specialists shall, for administrative
purposes, receive salary payments through the Cornell university payroll
and for such purposes shall be deemed employees of Cornell university;
provided, however, that their program activities shall be directed and
managed jointly by the participating associations and Cornell university
under the terms of the annual memorandum of agreement. Area program
specialists shall be eligible to receive the same state or federal
fringe benefits as professional staff employed by the cooperative
extension associations under the terms of section two hundred
twenty-four of this article.

2. Funding for area program specialists. The salaries and program
expenses of area program specialists shall be supported jointly by state
appropriations and/or other sources and by contributions from
participating cooperative extension associations. The state may
appropriate from funds available in the aid to localities account of the
general fund monies to support the programs and work of area specialists
under agreements with two or more cooperative extension associations.
Such funds shall be appropriated separately from funds appropriated
under section two hundred twenty-four of this article and administered
by the director of extension. State appropriations expended to support
area program specialists must be matched by funds provided from
non-state sources under the annual agreement by the participating
cooperative extension associations.

3. A cooperative extension association participating in an area
program specialist agreement shall continue to be a subordinate
governmental agency and neither the county nor Cornell university nor
any member, officer or director of the association shall be liable in
damages for any injury to person or property in connection with the
activities of the association the proximate cause of which was not
directly their or his fault or negligence.

4. Funding for statewide program specialists. The state may
appropriate monies from the aid to localities account in the general
fund for programs of statewide extension specialists, those funds are to
be administered by the director of extension. Such specialists shall be
employees of Cornell university, which shall establish standards for
their employment. Statewide specialists shall work under the direction
and supervision of Cornell university.