§ 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.