§ 19.42 Medical advisory panel.

There is hereby created within the office, a medical advisory panel.

(a) The panel shall consist of such officers and members as are
appointed by, and who serve at the pleasure of the commissioner. Members
shall include physicians and other medical, health services and/or
scientific professionals as are deemed appropriate by the commissioner.

(b) The panel shall advise the commissioner on medical issues relevant
to alcoholism and/or substance abuse.

(c) The panel shall meet with such frequency as may be determined by
the panel or the commissioner.

(d) The panel may establish such committees as it deems necessary.

(e) The panel may establish written bylaws.

(f) The commissioner, upon request of the panel, shall designate an
employee of the office to provide support services to the panel, and may
assign from time to time such other employees as the panel may request.

(g) The officers or members of the panel shall receive no compensation
for their services but shall be reimbursed for expenses actually and
necessarily incurred in the performance of their duties.

(h) No civil action shall be brought in any court against any officer
or member of the medical advisory panel of the office for any act done,
failure to act, or statement or opinion made, while discharging his or
her duties as an officer or member of the panel, without leave from a
justice of the supreme court, first had and obtained. In any event such
officer or member shall not be liable for damages in any such action if
he or she shall have acted in good faith, with reasonable care and upon
probable cause. Officers and members of the panel shall be considered
public officers for the purposes of section seventeen of the public
officers law.