2017 New York Laws
MHY - Mental Hygiene
Title D - Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Act
Article 19 - Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse
19.42 - Medical Advisory Panel.

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.