2006 New York Code - Damage Appraisal And Report.

 
    § 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.