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Assembly Actions -
Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE |
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| Dec 07, 2010 |
lost 3rd reading cal.4 substituted for s68001 |
| Dec 07, 2010 |
substituted by a42001 ordered to third reading cal.4 |
| Dec 03, 2010 |
referred to rules |
Senate Bill S68001
2009-2010 Legislative Session
Establishes the New York Racing Network, Inc.
download bill text pdfSponsored By
There are no sponsors of this bill.
Archive: Last Bill Status Via A42001 - Lost
- Introduced
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- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
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- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
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- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- Delivered to Governor
- Signed By Governor
Actions
Votes
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Floor Vote: Dec 7, 2010
aye (29)nay (21)
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Dec 7, 2010 - Rules Committee Vote
S6800110Aye5Nay3Aye with Reservations2Absent3Excused0Abstained -
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2009-S68001 (ACTIVE) - Details
- See Assembly Version of this Bill:
- A42001
- Law Section:
- Racing, Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Breeding Law
- Laws Affected:
- Amd RWB, L, generally, amd §§1612 & 1617-a, Tax L
2009-S68001 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo
BILL NUMBER:S68001
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law, in
relation to pari-mutuel tax rates at certain facilities and
establishing the New York Racing Network, Inc.; and to amend the tax
law, in relation to authorizing subsidized free play credits
PURPOSE:
This bill is necessary to allow the New York City Off-Track Betting
Corporation (NYC OTB) to remain a going concern by confirming a plan
of reorganization that can be approved by the Committee of Creditors,
so that NYC OTB can exit from bankruptcy and the State can maintain a
vibrant horse racing industry and preserve the thousands of jobs
supported by that industry.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of the bill would set forth legislative findings and intent.
Section 2 of the bill would amend Racing, Pari-Mutuel Wagering and
Breeding Law ("RPWBL") § 307(5-a) to allow Monticello Raceway, for the
purpose of qualifying for a track license, to reduce the minimum
number of races it runs to the greater of either 60% of the races run
in 1986 or 80% of the races run in 2000.
Section 3 of the bill would amend RPWBL § 318(5)(a) to allow
Monticello Raceway, for the purpose of calculating its reduced tax rate, to reduce the minimum number of races it runs to a number equal to or greater than 70% of the races run in 1985 or 1986, whichever is less. Section 4 of the bill would amend RPWBL § 529(2) to allow NYC OTB to retain and use for its operating purposes funds unclaimed by the holders of winning tickets. Section 5 of the bill would amend RPWBL § 603(1), (3), (6), &) and (11) to reconstitute the Board of Directors of the NYC OTB to include five voting directors and three non-voting directors. All Board members would be appointed by the Governor. Of the voting directors, one each would be appointed on the recommendation of the Temporary President of the Senate and the Speaker of the Assembly. Of the non-voting directors, one each would be appointed on the recommendation of the New York Racing Association (NYRA), the union representing the majority of NYC OTB employees - currently DC37 - and, jointly by the operators of Yonkers Raceway and Monticello Raceway. This section would also make technical changes to the law necessary to reflect the specific powers and fiduciary obligations of the voting and of the non-voting directors. Section 6 of the bill would amend RPWBL § 604 (8) and (11) to grant NYRA and Yonkers a right of first refusal to enter into a joint venture for the purposes of financing, constructing and operating a simulcast facility or simulcast theatre within 30 miles of Yonkers Raceway, or Aqueduct or Belmont Race Tracks. In the case of a joint venture in which the tracks opt not to participate, those proposed facilities beyond ten miles from the tracks; or anywhere in Manhattan, for which consent is otherwise necessary, is deemed granted by this section. This section also would prevent NYC OTB from operating account deposit wagering (ADW) services, except as part of a joint venture with the New York Racing Network, Inc. Section 7 of the bill would amend the RPWBL to add a new § 604-a to transfer NYC OTB's title and ownership of its ADW accounts to the New York Racing Network, Inc., and would remove any requirement to obtain NYC OTB's consent in order to conduct in-home simulcasting. Section 8 of the bill would amend the RPWBL to add a new § 604-b to require NYC OTB to service ADW accounts maintained by the New York Racing Network, Inc., by facilitating deposits and withdrawals from such accounts at NYC OTB wagering facilities for a transaction fee of 0.25%, up to $10 per transaction. In addition, this section would, provided appropriate betting technology is in place, require NYC OTB to process ADW wagering at its facilities on ADW accounts maintained by New York Racing Network, Inc., subject to a transaction fee of 2%, up to $10 per transaction. Such wagering transactions would be exempt from the NYC OTB surcharge. This section also would obligate New York Racing Network, Inc. to pay required transaction fees to NYC OTB within 30 days of the end of each month, and would make late payment of these fees a cause for the suspension of the enforceability of a default by NYC OTB. Section 9 of the bill would amend RPWBL § 606(2) to eliminate the requirement that NYC OTB utilize the classification and compensation schedules of the New York State Department of Civil Service. Section 10 of the bill would amend the RPWBL to add a new § 607 to require that NYC OTB prominently display races run at New York State tracks on the largest screens in their facilities. Section 11 of the bill would amend RPWBL § 610 to require a balanced annual operating budget for NYC OTB to be approved by the NYC OTB Board of Directors, and be determined to be balanced by the Director of the New York State Division of the Budget (DOB) before implementation. Section 12 of the bill would amend the RPWBL to add a new section 610-a to allow NYC OTB to reduce payments to in-state racetracks on account of wagers accepted on races run at out-of-state tracks; and would prescribe a schedule of the reduction of such payments in outgoing fiscal years, which is linked to handle levels achieved by NYC OTB. In addition, this section would create parity in payments by NYC OTB to the Thoroughbred and Harness Breeding Funds. Section 13 of the bill would make a technical amendment to RPWBL § 613 to allow New York Racing Network, inc. to assume and operate the ADW being transferred by NYC OTB. Section 14 of the bill would amend the RPWBL to add a new section 615 to allow NYC OTB to negotiate out-of-state and out-of-country simulcast agreements on behalf of all tracks in New York. Section 15 of the bill would amend the RPWBL to add a new section 617-a to create a schedule for the reduction in pari-mutuel tax payments made by NYC OTB to the State. Section 16 of the bill would amend the RPWBL to add a new section 623-a to prohibit NYC OTB from filing for municipal bankruptcy protection in the future. Section 17 of the bill would amend RPWBL § 624 to allow New York Racing Network, Inc., the option of assuming management and operational control of NYC OTB, should NYC OTB default by either: failing to pay any commission due to instate tracks within 60 days of the end of the month they are accrued (with a 30-day cure period); failing to achieve positive earnings before interest, depreciation and taxes (EBITDA) in any two consecutive fiscal years; or, failing to have a balanced budget as determined by the Director of DOB in any fiscal year. Section 18 of the bill would create a new Article 6-A of the Racing Law. Article 6-A would provide for the creation of the New York Racing Network, Inc., which will be incorporated by the New York Racing Association (NYRA) and one or more harness racing corporations that were members of the Official Committee of Creditors in Chapter 9 Bankruptcy proceedings for NYC OTB. Shares in the New York Racing Network, Inc. would be determined according to a pro-rata calculation of their share of the pre- and post-petition debt accrued by NYC OTB. This section also would allow for bets placed through New York Racing Network, inc. on races run at in-state tracks to be treated as if the bets were made at the track for the purposes of the distribution of wagering revenues. Section 19 of the bill would amend RPWBL § 1012(4-a) and (5) to provide for internet streaming of simulcast signals and would require that the display of those signals be conditioned upon the consent of the tracks at which the race is held. Section 20 of the bill would amend the RPWBL to add a new § 1013-a to require NYRA to provide its simulcast signal of all races run at NYRA tracks to NYC OTB at no cost. Section 21 of the bill would amend RPWBL § 1014(1)(h) to eliminate the requirement that NYC OTB make payments to licensed harness tracks in New York State based on wagers collected on races held at an in-state thoroughbred racing corporation or at out-of-state and out-of-country race track on days in which a franchised corporation is not conducting a race meeting (i.e., on a Dark Day specifically during the Saratoga season). Section 22 of the bill would amend RPWBL § 1016(1)(b)(5)(E) and 1016(1)(b)(6)(F) to eliminate the requirement that NYC OTB pay all other Dark Day payments to licensed regional harness tracks in New York State. Section 23 of the bill would amend RPWBL § 1017(2) to eliminate the requirement that NYC OTB pay Maintenance of Effort and hold harmless payments to licensed regional harness tracks in New York State. Section 24 of the bill would amend Tax Law § 1612(b)(1)(ii)(H) to eliminate the requirement for tracks with 1,100 or more gaming machines to make matching capital expenditures in order to receive reimbursements for capital awards accrued after October 1, 2010. This section would also provide that, beginning May 1, 2012, Monticello Gaming and Raceway would be eligible to receive a capital award for approved capital expenditures equal to an amount not to exceed one and one-half percent of net machine income. Section 25 of this bill would amend Tax Law § 1612(b)(1)(ii) to add a new subclause (I) to provide that qualifying subsidized free-play amounts would be excluded from net machine income, and therefore would not be included in the calculation of any distributions of net machine income. Section 26 of this bill would amend Tax Law § 1617-a to add a new subdivision (f) to establish a State-wide subsidized free-play program by: allowing the Lottery Division to promulgate rules and regulations or issue instructions on the administration of the program; providing that free-play promotional plans designed to increase revenue earned to support education must be approved by the Division; specifying that the, value of the subsidized free-play will not exceed 10% of the annual total amount wagered on video lottery games after prize payouts for gaming facilities meeting certain size arid geographic criteria, and 7.5% for all other facilities; providing the Lottery Director and Budget Director joint authority to suspend subsidized free-play credits if they are ineffective at raising education revenue or if any regulations or instructions are violated, while allowing for resumption following approval of a new promotional plan and reinstatement for violations; specifying that an operator of a video lottery facility has no limitations imposed on non-subsidized free-play credits as long as the value of such credits are properly accounted for; and clarifying that the Lottery Division may amend the contract for the central computer system that controls the video lottery network in order to provide compensation for processing additional transactions due to the subsidized free-play program or to make other system updates and modifications. Section 27 of the bill would provide for a severability clause. Section 28 of the bill would provide an immediate effective date for this legislation. BUDGET IMPLICATIONS: This bill would result in a net receipts increase of $22 million in SFY 2010-11 as $5.8 million in additional revenues from Video Lottery Gaming facilities resulting from subsidized free-play would be partially offset by a reduction in revenues of $0.6 million from reduced Pari-Mutuel Tax receipts and of $3.0 million from foregone unclaimed winning tickets. When fully implemented, this bill would increase net receipts by $18 million annually, as $23 million in additional receipts from subsidized free-play would be partially offset by revenue reductions of $2.5 million each from unclaimed winning tickets and reduced Pad-Mutual Tax receipts. STATEMENT IN SUPPORT: Since the State's takeover in June 2008, NYC OTB has remained insolvent and gone even deeper into debt due to a number of factors, including the severely weakened national economy, the corporation's lack of reinvestment capital, and the size and cost of its workforce and branch network. NYC OTB would have ceased operations altogether but for its filing for debt adjustment relief under chapter 9 of the Bankruptcy Code, which: a) has temporarily protected it from its pre-petition creditors, b) has allowed it to reject unprofitable leases, and c) has given it time to downsize its management staff, while working with its major creditors to arrive at a confirmable plan to pay down or otherwise adjust its pre-petition debts and to reorganize its operations for the future. However, there is no chance of confirming a plan or carrying out a successful reorganization without the enactment of the proposed legislation. The alternative would be a complete shutdown of NYC OTB's operations with the concomitant serious damage to New York's racing industry and the already ailing New York economy. In order to stabilize NYC OTB and allow it to reorganize successfully, this bill would authorize the transfer of NYC OTB's account wagering operations to an entity newly created by this legislation, New York Racing Network, Inc., the equity in which is held by the tracks who are members of the chapter 9 committee of unsecured creditors, i.e., the tracks which are owed the largest amounts of money by NYC OTB. The majority of NYC OTB's pre-petition debt will be allayed by this transfer. This bill also frees NYC OTB from certain economic requirements that have been significantly increased or been freshly placed on it in the past seven years and which have been major contributing factors to its financial distress. The unions that represent the majority of NYC OTB's employees have also agreed to make substantial sacrifices to save a significant number of jobs for their membership, all of which would be lost if this bill is not passed. Finally, a benefit that comes with the enactment of this bill - the importance of which cannot be overstated - is that NYC OTB will continue to be able to pay its pension and Other Post Employment Benefit (OPEB) obligations, which on an annual basis run to approximately $12 million, and on a long-term basis total more than $500 million. The long-term pension obligation of more than $200 million would otherwise have to be made up by the remaining entities that pay into the New York City Employees Retirement System (NYCERS), while the question of whose obligation it would be to pay the rest of the more than $500 million in OPEB liabilities would undoubtedly become an issue that would cause tremendous friction between the City of New York and the State of New York. It has taken years to get all of the major constituents of the racing industry, including NYC OTB's own union membership, to agree to make the sacrifices necessary to successfully save NYC OTB, and with it the State's racing industry. Those stakeholders, along with NYC OTB, itself, are finally willing to make those sacrifices so long as the proposed bill is passed. The opportunity to achieve this success will be lost if action is not immediately taken. EFFECTIVE DATE: This act would take effect immediately; provided however.
2009-S68001 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
1
Third Extraordinary Session
I N S E N A T E
December 3, 2010
___________
Introduced by COMMITTEE ON RULES -- (at request of the Governor) -- read
twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the
Committee on Rules
AN ACT to amend the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law, in
relation to pari-mutuel tax rates at certain facilities and establish-
ing the New York Racing Network, Inc.; and to amend the tax law, in
relation to authorizing subsidized free play credits
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Legislative findings and intent. The legislature hereby
finds and declares that the New York city off-track betting corporation
is an integral component of the horse racing industry in New York. The
legislature further finds that in order to preserve its continuing
existence, the corporation was allowed by executive order to file a
petition for bankruptcy protection under Chapter 9 of the Bankruptcy
Code in the southern district of New York. The bankruptcy proceedings
have resulted in a reorganization plan, the approval of which by the
official committee of creditors is contingent upon enacting legislation
to implement certain elements of that plan.
The legislature further finds that the labor unions representing the
employees of the corporation have signed memoranda of agreement, which
ratify portions of the reorganization plan affecting their membership.
This approval represents concurrence with the corporation's leadership
and the view of the legislature that a plan that allows the corporation
to remain sustainable upon exiting bankruptcy will preserve employment
opportunities for New York residents, and is preferable to a liquidation
of the corporation. Furthermore, the legislature finds that the tens of
thousands of jobs both directly and indirectly supported by the racing
industry will be protected by a reorganization plan that supports a
seamless exit from bankruptcy for the corporation.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD12318-07-0
S. 1 2
Therefore, the legislature finds this legislation, which strictly
enacts elements of the reorganization plan, to be essential to maintain-
ing a vibrant horse racing industry in New York, and to protecting the
thousands of jobs supported by the horse racing industry.
S 2. Subdivision 5-a of section 307 of the racing, pari-mutuel wager-
ing and breeding law, as amended by chapter 18 of the laws of 2008, is
amended to read as follows:
5-a. The board shall not issue a license pursuant to this section to
any harness racing association or corporation which does not apply to
conduct at its facilities a minimum number of pari-mutuel programs and
pari-mutuel races at its facilities equal to at least seventy-five per
centum of the programs and races so conducted during nineteen hundred
eighty-five or during nineteen hundred eighty-six, or one hundred per
centum of the programs and races so conducted during two thousand,
whichever is greater; provided, however, that for a harness racing asso-
ciation or corporation located in Westchester and Erie counties, such
minimum number of pari-mutuel programs and pari-mutuel races at its
facilities shall equal at least one hundred per centum of the programs
and races conducted during two thousand, AND PROVIDED FURTHER, HOWEVER,
THAT FOR A HARNESS ASSOCIATION OR CORPORATION LOCATED IN SULLIVAN COUN-
TY, SUCH MINIMUM NUMBER OF PARI-MUTUEL PROGRAMS AND PARI-MUTUEL RACES AT
ITS FACILITIES SHALL EQUAL AT LEAST SIXTY PER CENTUM OF THE PROGRAMS AND
RACES SO CONDUCTED DURING NINETEEN HUNDRED EIGHTY-SIX OR EIGHTY PER
CENTUM OF THE PROGRAMS AND RACES SO CONDUCTED DURING TWO THOUSAND,
WHICHEVER IS GREATER. If the track did not conduct races during two
thousand, such minimum number of pari-mutuel programs and pari-mutuel
races at its facilities shall equal at least ninety per centum of the
programs and races conducted during two thousand at Buffalo raceway, in
the town of Hamburg and county of Erie, unless cancellation of a race
day because of an act of God, which the board approves or because of
weather conditions that are unsafe or hazardous which the board approves
shall not be construed as a failure to conduct a race day; provided
further, the board shall not grant a license to such association or
corporation upon application unless such programs and races are
conducted during the same calendar year period as were conducted during
the applicable period above utilized to measure the minimum number of
pari-mutuel programs and pari-mutuel races, as approved by the board.
Nothing in the foregoing paragraph shall affect any agreement in effect
on or before the effective date of this paragraph. The board may grant a
license to such association or corporation to conduct fewer such
programs and races for good cause shown due to factors beyond the
control of such association or corporation, and upon consent of the
representative horsemen's association, as determined pursuant to section
three hundred eighteen of this article.
S 3. The opening paragraph of paragraph a of subdivision 5 of section
318 of the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law, as added by
chapter 261 of the laws of 1988, is amended to read as follows:
Notwithstanding any other provision of this section to the contrary,
for any calendar year commencing on or after January first, nineteen
hundred eighty-nine, in which a harness racing association or corpo-
ration does not conduct a minimum number of pari-mutuel programs and
pari-mutuel races at its facilities equal to at least ninety per centum
of the programs and races so conducted during nineteen hundred eighty-
five or during nineteen hundred eighty-six, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT FOR
A HARNESS RACING ASSOCIATION OR CORPORATION LOCATED IN SULLIVAN COUNTY,
FOR ANY CALENDAR YEAR COMMENCING ON OR AFTER JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND
S. 1 3
ELEVEN, IN WHICH SUCH HARNESS RACING ASSOCIATION OR CORPORATION DOES NOT
CONDUCT A MINIMUM NUMBER OF PARI-MUTUEL PROGRAMS AND PARI-MUTUEL RACES
AT SUCH FACILITIES EQUAL TO AT LEAST SEVENTY PER CENTUM OF THE PROGRAMS
AND RACES SO CONDUCTED DURING NINETEEN HUNDRED EIGHTY-FIVE OR DURING
NINETEEN HUNDRED EIGHTY-SIX, whichever is less, in lieu of the tax rates
set forth in subdivision one of this section the applicable pari-mutuel
tax rates for such association or corporation with respect to on-track
pari-mutuel betting pools during such year shall be as follows:
S 4. Subdivision 2 of section 529 of the racing, pari-mutuel wagering
and breeding law is amended to read as follows:
2. Ninety-five percent of the balance of such account remaining
unclaimed as of the last day of February of such year shall be paid BY
EACH REGIONAL OFF-TRACK BETTING CORPORATION, EXCEPT THE NEW YORK CITY
OFF-TRACK BETTING CORPORATION, to the state tax commission by March
fifteenth. On or before April tenth of each year the balance of such
account and any other unclaimed amounts received in the course of
conducting off-track betting shall be paid by [such] EACH REGIONAL OFF-
TRACK BETTING corporation, EXCEPT THE NEW YORK CITY OFF-TRACK BETTING
CORPORATION, to the state tax commission. A penalty of five percent and
interest at the rate of one percent per month from the due date to the
date of payment of the unclaimed balance due March fifteenth or April
tenth, as the case may be, shall be payable in case such balance is not
paid when due. Such amounts, interest and penalties when collected by
the state tax commission shall be deposited into the general fund of the
state treasury. THE BALANCE OF SUCH UNCLAIMED ACCOUNTS RETAINED BY THE
NEW YORK CITY OFF-TRACK BETTING CORPORATION MAY BE USED FOR ITS CORPO-
RATE PURPOSES.
S 5. Subdivisions 1, 3, 6, 7 and 11 of section 603 of the racing,
pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law, as amended by chapter 115 of the
laws of 2008, are amended to read as follows:
1. A corporation to be known as the "New York city off-track betting
corporation" is hereby created. Such corporation shall be a body corpo-
rate and politic constituting a public benefit corporation. It shall be
administered by a board of directors consisting of five [members] VOTING
DIRECTORS AND THREE NON-VOTING DIRECTORS, who may be public officers,
appointed by the governor [for fixed terms as hereinafter provided, one
of whom shall be appointed on the recommendation of the temporary presi-
dent of the senate, and one of whom shall be appointed on the recommen-
dation of the speaker of the assembly]. THE VOTING DIRECTORS, ONE OF
WHOM SHALL BE APPOINTED ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT
OF THE SENATE AND ONE OF WHOM SHALL BE APPOINTED ON THE RECOMMENDATION
OF THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, SHALL SERVE FOR FIXED TERMS AS HEREIN-
AFTER PROVIDED. OF THE NON-VOTING DIRECTORS, ONE SHALL BE APPOINTED ON
THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE FRANCHISED CORPORATION; ONE ON THE JOINT
RECOMMENDATION OF THE HARNESS TRACKS LOCATED IN WESTCHESTER AND SULLIVAN
COUNTIES; AND ONE ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE UNION REPRESENTING A
MAJORITY OF THE UNIONIZED EMPLOYEES OF THE CORPORATION. THE NON-VOTING
DIRECTORS SHALL NOT HAVE A FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION TO THE CORPORATION, BUT
SHALL BE REQUIRED TO PROTECT INFORMATION DEEMED TO BE, OR WHICH COULD BE
REASONABLY ASSUMED TO BE, CONFIDENTIAL, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION,
ALL MATTERS DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
3. The governor shall designate one of the VOTING directors to be
chairman of the board of directors and may at his OR HER pleasure,
change his OR HER designation of any such VOTING director to be chair-
man.
S. 1 4
6. The powers of the corporation shall be vested in and exercised by
the board at a meeting duly held at a time fixed by any by-law adopted
by the board, or at any duly adjourned meeting of such meeting or at any
meeting held upon reasonable notice to all of the directors, or upon
written waiver thereof, and a majority of the whole number of VOTING
directors shall constitute a quorum; provided that neither the business
nor the powers of the corporation shall be transacted or exercised
except pursuant to the favorable vote of at least a majority of the
VOTING directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is in attend-
ance.
7. The board may delegate to one or more of the VOTING directors,
officers, agents or employees of the corporation such powers and duties
as it may deem proper.
11. The fiscal year of the corporation shall be the same as that of
[the city, provided, however, that the corporation shall have a nine
month fiscal year from July first, two thousand eight through March
thirty-first, two thousand nine, and then the fiscal year of the corpo-
ration shall be the same as] the state.
S 6. Subdivisions 8 and 11 of section 604 of the racing, pari-mutuel
wagering and breeding law, subdivision 8 as amended by chapter 115 of
the laws of 2008, are amended to read as follows:
8. To make contracts and leases, including joint ventures with third
parties or entities, EXCEPT THAT ANY JOINT VENTURE WITH THIRD PARTIES OR
ENTITIES FOR THE PURPOSE OF RAISING CAPITAL FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND
OPERATION OF A NEW OR EXPANDED LICENSED SIMULCAST FACILITY AS DEFINED IN
SUBDIVISION J OF SECTION ONE THOUSAND ONE OF THIS CHAPTER OR EXPANDED
SIMULCAST THEATER AS DEFINED IN SUBDIVISION 1 OF SECTION ONE THOUSAND
ONE OF THIS CHAPTER SHALL BE SUBJECT TO A RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL BY ANY
NEW YORK STATE LICENSED HARNESS TRACK OR FRANCHISED CORPORATION WITH
RACING FACILITIES LOCATED WITHIN THIRTY MILES OF THE PROPOSED LOCATION
(IF MORE THAN ONE SUCH HARNESS TRACK OR FRANCHISED CORPORATION'S RACING
FACILITIES ARE LOCATED WITHIN THIRTY MILES OF THE PROPOSED LOCATION THEN
BOTH WILL HAVE THE RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL AND MAY PARTNER TOGETHER THER-
EIN) TO BE THE FINANCIAL AND OPERATING PARTNER OF THE CORPORATION IN
SUCH JOINT VENTURE, and to execute all instruments necessary or conven-
ient to accomplish its corporate purpose; provided, however, that the
corporation may only enter into agreements for the purchase or lease of
any property to be used in whole or in part as an off-track betting
branch office which is conditioned upon the location thereof being
approved by the site selection board; and further provided, that such
location prior to its use as such off-track betting branch office shall
have been approved by the site selection board. TO THE EXTENT THAT ANY
PROVISION OF THIS CHAPTER, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, SUBPARAGRAPH
(II) OF PARAGRAPH C OF SUBDIVISION TWO OF SECTION ONE THOUSAND EIGHT AND
PARAGRAPH B OF SUBDIVISION THREE OF SECTION ONE THOUSAND NINE OR OF ANY
OTHER LAW, RULE OR REGULATION, REQUIRES THE AUTHORIZATION OR CONSENT OF
ANY REGIONAL TRACK TO THE CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION OR LICENSING OF A
SIMULCAST FACILITY OR SIMULCAST THEATER, THEN IN THE EVENT THAT SUCH
RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL IS NOT EXERCISED, THEN IF SUCH SIMULCAST FACILITY
IS LOCATED IN NEW YORK COUNTY OR IS LOCATED MORE THAN TEN MILES FROM ANY
REGIONAL HARNESS TRACK OR A RACING FACILITY OF THE FRANCHISED CORPO-
RATION SUCH CONSENT OR AUTHORIZATION IS HEREBY DEEMED GRANTED. NOTWITH-
STANDING ANY PROVISION OF THIS CHAPTER OR OF ANY OTHER LAW, RULE OR
REGULATION TO THE CONTRARY, THE OPERATOR OF SUCH JOINT VENTURE SIMULCAST
WAGERING FACILITY SHALL NEITHER BE REQUIRED TO COLLECT A SURCHARGE ON
S. 1 5
BETS MADE THEREIN NOR BE REQUIRED TO CHARGE AN ADMISSION FEE FOR
ENTRANCE THERETO;
11. In the manner and subject to the terms and conditions set forth in
this article, and article five-a of this chapter to establish and
conduct a system of off-track pari-mutuel betting in the city on horse
races WHICH SHALL NOT INCLUDE THE CONDUCT, OPERATION, OR MAINTENANCE OF
TELEPHONE BETTING ACCOUNTS AND TELEPHONE WAGERING AS DEFINED IN SUBDIVI-
SION FOUR-A OF SECTION ONE THOUSAND TWELVE OF THIS CHAPTER, PROVIDED
THAT THE CORPORATION MAY AFFILIATE OR JOINT VENTURE SOLELY WITH AND AT
THE SOLE OPTION OF THE NEW YORK RACING NETWORK, INC. IN THE CONDUCT,
OPERATION, OR MAINTENANCE OF TELEPHONE BETTING ACCOUNTS AND TELEPHONE
WAGERING AS DEFINED IN SUBDIVISION FOUR-A OF SECTION ONE THOUSAND TWELVE
OF THIS CHAPTER;
S 7. The racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law is amended by
adding a new section 604-a to read as follows:
S 604-A. TRANSFER OF ACCOUNT WAGERING OPERATIONS. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY
OTHER LAW, RULE OR REGULATION TO THE CONTRARY, THE CORPORATION SHALL
TRANSFER OWNERSHIP AND TITLE TO ALL TELEPHONE BETTING AND TELEPHONE
WAGERING ACCOUNTS AS DEFINED IN SUBDIVISION FOUR-A OF SECTION ONE THOU-
SAND TWELVE OF THIS CHAPTER THAT ARE MAINTAINED AND OPERATED BY THE
CORPORATION TO THE NEW YORK RACING NETWORK, INC. THE CORPORATION SHALL
UPON SUCH TRANSFER NO LONGER HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO MAINTAIN TELEPHONE
BETTING OR TELEPHONE WAGERING ACCOUNTS AS DEFINED IN THIS CHAPTER OR TO
CONDUCT TELEPHONE OR INTERNET WAGERING AS PROVIDED FOR IN THIS CHAPTER
EITHER DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY THROUGH A THIRD PARTY PROVIDER INCLUDING
BUT NOT LIMITED TO A REGIONAL OFF-TRACK BETTING CORPORATION, EXCEPT AS
PROVIDED FOR IN SUBDIVISION ELEVEN OF SECTION SIX HUNDRED FOUR OF THIS
ARTICLE. THE CORPORATION SHALL UPON SUCH TRANSFER OF TELEPHONE BETTING
AND TELEPHONE WAGERING ACCOUNTS AS PROVIDED HEREIN NO LONGER HAVE
AUTHORITY TO JOINTLY OR OTHERWISE APPROVE THROUGH WRITTEN AGREEMENT,
CONSENT OR OTHERWISE THE CONDUCT OF IN-HOME SIMULCASTING PURSUANT TO
SECTION ONE THOUSAND THREE OF THIS CHAPTER.
S 8. The racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law is amended by
adding a new section 604-b to read as follows:
S 604-B. ACCOUNT SERVICING FOR NEW YORK RACING NETWORK, INC. 1.
NOTWITHSTANDING ANY LAW, RULE OR REGULATION TO THE CONTRARY, THE CORPO-
RATION SHALL PERMIT ACCOUNT HOLDERS OF THE NEW YORK RACING NETWORK,
INC., AS ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO ARTICLE SIX-A OF THIS CHAPTER, TO MAKE
DEPOSITS AND WITHDRAWALS AT BRANCH OFFICES, SIMULCAST FACILITIES OR
SIMULCAST THEATERS OPERATED BY THE CORPORATION FROM THEIR ACCOUNTS AT
THE NEW YORK RACING NETWORK, INC. A FEE OF .25 PERCENT PER TRANSACTION
UP TO A MAXIMUM OF TEN DOLLARS PER TRANSACTION SHALL BE ASSESSED BY THE
CORPORATION ON THE ACCOUNT HOLDERS OF THE NEW YORK RACING NETWORK, INC.
FOR SUCH DEPOSITS OR WITHDRAWALS ON THEIR ACCOUNTS.
2. TO THE EXTENT, BUT ONLY TO THE EXTENT, THAT THE NEW YORK CITY OFF-
TRACK BETTING CORPORATION'S WAGERING TERMINALS, EQUIPMENT AND SYSTEMS
HAVE THE ABILITY TO ACCEPT AND PROCESS ACCOUNT WAGERING TRANSACTIONS,
THE NEW YORK RACING NETWORK, INC.'S ACCOUNT HOLDERS MAY ALSO WAGER AT
BRANCH OFFICES, SIMULCAST FACILITIES OR SIMULCAST THEATERS OPERATED BY
THE NEW YORK CITY OFF-TRACK BETTING CORPORATION FROM THEIR ACCOUNTS AT
THE NEW YORK RACING NETWORK, INC., IN WHICH EVENT ANY WAGER MADE AT
BRANCH OFFICES, SIMULCAST FACILITIES OR SIMULCAST THEATERS OPERATED BY
NEW YORK CITY OFF-TRACK BETTING CORPORATION BY AN ACCOUNT HOLDER OF THE
NEW YORK RACING NETWORK, INC. USING THEIR ACCOUNT SHALL BE SUBJECT TO A
FEE OF TWO PERCENT OF THE AMOUNT OF EACH ACCOUNT WAGERING TRANSACTION UP
TO A MAXIMUM OF TEN DOLLARS PER TRANSACTION.
S. 1 6
3. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY LAW, RULE OR REGULATION TO THE CONTRARY, SUCH
ACCOUNT WAGERING TRANSACTION DESCRIBED IN THIS SECTION SHALL NOT BE
SUBJECT TO ANY SURCHARGE THAT OTHERWISE MAY BE REQUIRED TO BE CHARGED OR
COLLECTED ON WAGERS PLACED AT A NEW YORK CITY OFF-TRACK BETTING FACILI-
TY.
4. ANY TRANSACTION FEE TO BE PAID TO THE NEW YORK CITY OFF-TRACK
BETTING CORPORATION BY THE NEW YORK RACING NETWORK, INC. PURSUANT TO
THIS SECTION SHALL BE PAID WITHIN THIRTY DAYS OF THE FINAL DAY OF THE
MONTH IN WHICH SUCH TRANSACTION TAKES PLACE.
5. IF, DURING ANY FISCAL YEAR OF THE NEW YORK CITY OFF-TRACK BETTING
CORPORATION, PAYMENTS TO THE CORPORATION FROM THE NEW YORK RACING
NETWORK, INC. PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION REMAIN UNPAID FOR MORE THAN NINE-
TY DAYS FROM THE DATE THEY ARE DUE, OR ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS
REMAIN UNPAID FOR MORE THAN THIRTY DAYS FROM THE DATE THEY ARE DUE, THEN
THE CORPORATION CANNOT BE HELD IN DEFAULT FOR AS LONG AS THE NEW YORK
RACING NETWORK, INC. REMAINS IN DEFAULT.
S 9. Subdivision 2 of section 606 of the racing, pari-mutuel wagering
and breeding law, as amended by chapter 115 of the laws of 2008, is
amended to read as follows:
2. The corporation shall administer its personnel pursuant to the
civil service law and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder,
[and classification and compensation schedules of the state department
of civil service,] and all other applicable provisions of general laws
relating to civil service administration. The corporation shall retain
all personnel, payroll and associated employee records and shall ensure
that the New York city employees' retirement system has access to such
records for retirement purposes consistent with current records
retention requirements.
S 10. The racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law is amended by
adding a new section 608 to read as follows:
S 608. DISPLAY OF RACES. EXCEPT AS TO SIMULCAST SIGNALS OF SPECIAL
INTEREST RACES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, TRIPLE CROWN AND BREEDERS
CUP RACES, SIMULCAST SIGNALS WHICH ARE SHOWN IN BRANCH OFFICES, SIMUL-
CAST FACILITIES OR SIMULCAST THEATERS OF RACE PROGRAMS RUN AT NEW YORK
STATE THOROUGHBRED OR HARNESS TRACKS SHALL BE PROMINENTLY DISPLAYED ON
THE LARGEST SCREENS AVAILABLE IN SUCH FACILITIES.
S 11. Section 610 of the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding
law, as amended by chapter 115 of the laws of 2008, is amended to read
as follows:
S 610. Moneys of corporation. 1. The monetary transactions of the
corporation and the keeping of its books and accounts shall be under the
supervision of the director of the division of the budget. The chair of
the racing and wagering board may at any time request and shall be
provided for review such books and accounts.
2. THE ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGETS FOR THE CORPORATION SHALL BE APPROVED
BY THE BOARD OF THE CORPORATION, AND NO BUDGET SHALL BE APPROVED BY THE
BOARD THAT IS NOT BALANCED PURSUANT TO GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING
PRINCIPLES, EXCEPT THAT WITH RESPECT TO THE CORPORATION'S OTHER POST-EM-
PLOYMENT BENEFITS LIABILITIES, A BALANCED BUDGET SHOULD GIVE EFFECT ONLY
TO THE PROJECTED AGGREGATE ANNUAL CASH PAYMENT FOR OTHER POST-EMPLOYMENT
BENEFITS LIABILITIES. MOREOVER, THE CORPORATION SHALL NOT IMPLEMENT A
BUDGET APPROVED BY ITS BOARD UNTIL SUCH BUDGET IS DETERMINED TO BE
BALANCED BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE NEW YORK STATE DIVISION OF THE BUDGET
WHO SHALL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE CORPORATION'S NON-CASH OTHER
POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS LIABILITIES IN MAKING SUCH DETERMINATION. IN
THE EVENT THE BUDGET OF THE CORPORATION IS NOT DETERMINED TO BE BALANCED
S. 1 7
BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE BUDGET PRIOR TO THE START OF THE FISCAL YEAR OF
THE CORPORATION, THE CORPORATION SHALL CONTINUE TO OPERATE UNDER THE
SPENDING LEVELS CONTAINED IN THE BUDGET OF THE PRIOR YEAR UNTIL SUCH
TIME AS A NEW BUDGET IS DETERMINED TO BE BALANCED BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE
BUDGET.
3. All moneys due the city pursuant to article five-A of this chapter
shall be paid to the New York city comptroller.
[3.] 4. The state comptroller and his legally authorized represen-
tative are authorized to examine the accounts and books of the corpo-
ration, including its receipts, disbursements, contracts, leases, sink-
ing funds, investments and any other records and papers relating to its
financial standing.
[4.] 5. The corporation shall have power, notwithstanding the
provisions of this section, to contract with the holders of any of its
bonds as to the custody, collection, securing, investment and payment of
any moneys of the corporation or any moneys held in trust or otherwise
for the payment of bonds in any way to secure bonds, and to carry out
any such contract notwithstanding that such contract may be inconsistent
with the previous provisions of this section.
[5.] 6. Moneys held in trust or otherwise for the payment of bonds or
in any way to secure bonds and deposits of such moneys may be secured in
the same manner as moneys of the corporation, and all banks and trust
companies are authorized to give such security for such deposits.
S 12. The racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law is amended by
adding a new section 610-a to read as follows:
S 610-A. REDUCTION IN PAYMENTS REQUIRED TO BE MADE TO IN-STATE TRACKS
ON ACCOUNT OF ACCEPTANCE OF WAGERS ON RACES RUN AT OUT-OF-STATE TRACKS.
1. OTHER THAN PAYMENTS REQUIRED TO BE MADE DIRECTLY TO AN IN-STATE TRACK
FOR THE TAKING OF WAGERS ON RACES RUN AT AN IN-STATE TRACK, AND NOTWITH-
STANDING ANY PROVISION OF THIS CHAPTER OR ANY OTHER LAW, RULE OR REGU-
LATION TO THE CONTRARY, THE NEW YORK CITY OFF-TRACK BETTING CORPORATION
SHALL REDUCE ANY PAYMENTS REQUIRED TO BE MADE BY IT TO THE FRANCHISED
CORPORATION OR TO ANY IN-STATE, BOARD-LICENSED, THOROUGHBRED RACING
CORPORATION OR HARNESS RACING CORPORATION OR ASSOCIATION, ON ACCOUNT OF
RETAINED COMMISSIONS FROM WAGERING ACCEPTED BY THE NEW YORK CITY
OFF-TRACK BETTING CORPORATION ON RACES RUN AT TRACKS OUTSIDE OF NEW YORK
STATE, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION SUCH PAYMENTS REQUIRED TO BE MADE
PURSUANT TO SECTIONS FIVE HUNDRED TWENTY-SEVEN, ONE THOUSAND FOURTEEN,
ONE THOUSAND FIFTEEN, ONE THOUSAND SIXTEEN AND ONE THOUSAND EIGHTEEN OF
THIS CHAPTER. THE REDUCTIONS IN SUCH PAYMENTS SHALL BE AS FOLLOWS: FOR
THE FIRST FISCAL YEAR OF THE CORPORATION IN WHICH THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF
THIS SUBDIVISION OCCURS, SUCH PAYMENTS SHALL BE REDUCED BY FIFTY
PERCENT; FOR THE FOLLOWING FISCAL YEAR, SUCH PAYMENTS SHALL BE REDUCED
BY FORTY PERCENT; FOR THE THIRD FISCAL YEAR, SUCH PAYMENTS SHALL BE
REDUCED BY THIRTY PERCENT; AND FOR EACH FISCAL YEAR THEREAFTER SUCH
PAYMENTS SHALL BE REDUCED BY TWENTY PERCENT, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT IF
IN THE FOURTH FISCAL YEAR OR IN ANY FISCAL YEAR THEREAFTER THE ANNUAL
TOTAL HANDLE OF THE NEW YORK CITY OFF-TRACK BETTING CORPORATION REACHES
BETWEEN SIX HUNDRED MILLION AND SIX HUNDRED TWENTY MILLION DOLLARS, THEN
THE REDUCTION IN SUCH PAYMENTS SHALL BE TEN PERCENT; PROVIDED, FURTHER,
HOWEVER THAT IF IN THE FOURTH FISCAL YEAR OR ANY SUBSEQUENT FISCAL YEAR
THE ANNUAL TOTAL HANDLE OF THE NEW YORK CITY OFF-TRACK BETTING CORPO-
RATION EXCEEDS SIX HUNDRED TWENTY MILLION DOLLARS, THEN THERE SHALL BE
NO REDUCTION IN SUCH PAYMENTS.
2. ALL PAYMENTS REQUIRED TO BE MADE BY THE NEW YORK CITY OFF-TRACK
BETTING CORPORATION PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION, SHALL
S. 1 8
BE MADE BY THE CORPORATION WITHIN SIXTY DAYS FOLLOWING THE LAST DAY OF
THE MONTH IN WHICH THE OBLIGATION FOR SUCH PAYMENT ACCRUED, WITH AN
ADDITIONAL THIRTY DAY PERIOD IN WHICH THE CORPORATION MUST CURE A
DEFAULT IN THE MAKING OF SUCH PAYMENT, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT IN ANY
FISCAL YEAR OF THE NEW YORK CITY OFF-TRACK BETTING CORPORATION IN WHICH
THE PAYMENT REDUCTIONS DESCRIBED IN SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION ARE
LESS THAN TWENTY PERCENT AS A RESULT OF THE CORPORATION'S TOTAL ANNUAL
HANDLE EXCEEDING FIVE HUNDRED NINETY-NINE MILLION DOLLARS AND
NINETY-NINE CENTS, THE PORTION OF SUCH PAYMENTS THAT ARE DEPENDENT UPON
THE CORPORATION'S TOTAL ANNUAL HANDLE EXCEEDING SUCH AMOUNT SHALL BE
PAID BY THE CORPORATION WITHIN THIRTY DAYS FOLLOWING THE END OF SUCH
FISCAL YEAR, WITH AN ADDITIONAL THIRTY DAY PERIOD IN WHICH THE CORPO-
RATION MUST CURE A DEFAULT IN MAKING OF ANY SUCH PAYMENTS.
3. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY PROVISION OF THIS CHAPTER OR ANY OTHER LAW,
RULE OR REGULATION TO THE CONTRARY, THE NEW YORK CITY OFF-TRACK BETTING
CORPORATION SHALL CALCULATE THE STATUTORY PAYMENTS IT IS REQUIRED TO
MAKE TO THE AGRICULTURAL AND NEW YORK STATE HORSE BREEDING DEVELOPMENT
FUND BY USING THE SAME PERCENTAGE RATE USED TO CALCULATE THE STATUTORY
PAYMENTS REQUIRED TO BE MADE BY IT TO THE NEW YORK STATE THOROUGHBRED
BREEDING AND DEVELOPMENT FUND.
S 13. Section 613 of the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law
is amended to read as follows:
S 613. Agreement of the state. The state does pledge to and agree with
the holders of any and all bonds and notes of the corporation that the
state will not authorize any officer or agency of government, other than
the corporation, EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR IN THIS ARTICLE, or
any private person, to [conduct] OPERATE off-track betting in the city
on horse races, nor in any manner limit or alter the rights hereby vest-
ed in the corporation to fulfill the terms of any agreements made with
the said holders, or in any way impair the rights and remedies of such
holders until the bonds and notes, together with the interest thereon,
interest on any unpaid installments of interest, and all costs and
expenses in connection with any action or proceeding by or on behalf of
such holders, are fully met and discharged. The corporation is author-
ized to include this pledge and agreement of the state in any agreement
with the holders of such bonds or notes.
S 14. The racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law is amended by
adding a new section 615 to read as follows:
S 615. AUTHORITY TO NEGOTIATE SIMULCAST SIGNALS FOR THIRD PARTIES. THE
CORPORATION SHALL BE AUTHORIZED TO CONTRACT WITH THE FRANCHISED CORPO-
RATION, A THOROUGHBRED RACING CORPORATION OR ANY HARNESS CORPORATION
LICENSED BY THE BOARD TO NEGOTIATE ON SUCH ENTITIES' BEHALF WITH
OUT-OF-STATE OR OUT-OF-COUNTRY RACETRACKS TO PROVIDE SIMULCAST SIGNALS
TO SUCH ENTITIES.
S 15. The racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law is amended by
adding a new section 617-a to read as follows:
S 617-A. REDUCTIONS IN PARI-MUTUEL TAX PAYMENTS. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY
INCONSISTENT PROVISION OF THIS CHAPTER OR OF ANY OTHER LAW, RULE OR
REGULATION, THE NEW YORK CITY OFF-TRACK BETTING CORPORATION SHALL REDUCE
BY FIFTY PERCENT PAYMENTS DUE FOR PARI-MUTUEL TAXES TO THE STATE DEPART-
MENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE THAT WOULD OTHERWISE BE REQUIRED TO BE MADE
PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS CHAPTER, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, IN THE
EVENT THAT THE ANNUAL TOTAL HANDLE OF NEW YORK CITY OFF-TRACK BETTING IN
ANY FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING TWO FISCAL YEARS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF
THIS SECTION IS: SIX HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS OR GREATER BUT NOT MORE
THAN SIX HUNDRED FIFTEEN MILLION DOLLARS, SUCH REDUCTION IN PARI-MUTUEL
S. 1 9
TAX PAYMENTS SHALL BE FORTY-TWO AND ONE-HALF PERCENT; GREATER THAN SIX
HUNDRED FIFTEEN MILLION DOLLARS BUT NOT MORE THAN SIX HUNDRED TWENTY
MILLION DOLLARS, SUCH REDUCTION IN PARI-MUTUEL TAX PAYMENTS SHALL BE
THIRTY-SEVEN AND ONE-HALF PERCENT; GREATER THAN SIX HUNDRED TWENTY
MILLION DOLLARS BUT NOT MORE THAN SIX HUNDRED THIRTY MILLION DOLLARS,
SUCH REDUCTION IN PARI-MUTUEL TAX PAYMENTS SHALL BE TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT;
GREATER THAN SIX HUNDRED THIRTY MILLION DOLLARS BUT NOT MORE THAN SIX
HUNDRED THIRTY-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS, SUCH REDUCTION IN PARI-MUTUEL TAX
PAYMENTS SHALL BE SEVENTEEN AND ONE-HALF PERCENT; GREATER THAN SIX
HUNDRED THIRTY-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS BUT NOT MORE THAN SIX HUNDRED FORTY
MILLION DOLLARS, SUCH REDUCTION IN PARI-MUTUEL TAX PAYMENTS SHALL BE
SEVEN AND ONE-HALF PERCENT; AND IN EXCESS OF SIX HUNDRED FORTY MILLION
DOLLARS, THERE SHALL BE NO REDUCTION OF PARI-MUTUEL TAX PAYMENTS. THE
NEW YORK CITY OFF-TRACK BETTING CORPORATION SHALL MAKE MONTHLY PAYMENTS
OF PARI-MUTUEL TAX BASED UPON SUCH FIFTY PERCENT REDUCTION. WITHIN THIR-
TY DAYS OF THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR OF THE CORPORATION, THE CORPO-
RATION SHALL PAY THE REMAINDER OF ANY PARI-MUTUEL TAX THAT MAY BE DUE AS
A RESULT OF A LOWER ALLOWABLE REDUCTION BASED UPON A CALCULATION OF
ANNUAL HANDLE AT THE CLOSE OF NEW YORK CITY OFF-TRACK BETTING CORPO-
RATION'S FISCAL YEAR.
S 16. The racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law is amended by
adding a new section 623-a to read as follows:
S 623-A. FILING OF PETITIONS BY THE NEW YORK CITY OFF-TRACK BETTING
CORPORATION. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY LAW, RULE, REGULATION OR EXECUTIVE
ORDER TO THE CONTRARY, IT IS HEREBY DECLARED TO BE THE POLICY OF THE
STATE OF NEW YORK THAT THE NEW YORK CITY OFF-TRACK BETTING CORPORATION
SHALL NOT BE AUTHORIZED TO FILE ANY PETITION AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF
THIS SECTION WITH ANY UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT OR COURT OF BANKRUPT-
CY UNDER ANY PROVISION OF THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE COMPOSI-
TION OR ADJUSTMENT OF MUNICIPAL INDEBTEDNESS.
S 17. Section 624 of the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding
law, as amended by chapter 115 of the laws of 2008, is amended to read
as follows:
S 624. Termination of the corporation; ASSUMPTION OF MANAGEMENT OF THE
CORPORATION. 1. The corporation and its corporate existence shall
continue until terminated by law; provided, however, that no such law
shall take effect so long as the corporation shall have bonds, notes or
other obligations outstanding, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO A LICENSE
AND MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT AS PROVIDED FOR IN SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS
SECTION. Upon termination of the existence of the corporation all of its
rights, property, assets and funds shall thereupon vest in and be
possessed by the state.
2. SHOULD THE CORPORATION: (A) FAIL TO PAY ANY COMMISSIONS DUE TO THE
IN-STATE RACE TRACKS WHICH SHALL BE DUE NOT LATER THAN SIXTY DAYS FROM
THE LAST DAY OF THE MONTH IN WHICH SUCH COMMISSIONS ACCRUED, PLUS AN
ADDITIONAL THIRTY DAY CURE PERIOD; OR (B) FAIL TO ACHIEVE POSITIVE EARN-
INGS BEFORE INTEREST, TAXES, DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION IN ANY TWO
CONSECUTIVE FISCAL YEARS; OR (C) FAIL TO HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET, AS
DETERMINED BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE STATE BUDGET IN ACCORDANCE WITH
SECTION SIX HUNDRED TEN OF THIS ARTICLE IN ANY FISCAL YEAR; THEN THE NEW
YORK RACING NETWORK, INC. MAY ASSUME, PURSUANT TO A LICENSE AND MANAGE-
MENT AGREEMENT, THE LENGTH OF THE TERM OF WHICH SHALL BE SUBJECT TO THE
APPROVAL OF THE RACING AND WAGERING BOARD, THE MANAGEMENT AND OPERA-
TIONAL CONTROL OF THE BUSINESS ACTIVITIES OF THE CORPORATION. IN THE
EVENT THAT THE NEW YORK RACING NETWORK, INC. AGREES TO ASSUME MANAGEMENT
AND OPERATIONAL CONTROL OF THE CORPORATION, THE FRANCHISED CORPORATION
S. 1 10
AND THE HARNESS TRACK LOCATED IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY SHALL BE JOINTLY
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONAL CONTROL OF THE BUSINESS
ACTIVITIES OF THE CORPORATION ON BEHALF OF THE NEW YORK RACING NETWORK,
INC., PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT NEITHER SHALL DIRECTLY RECEIVE ADDITIONAL
COMPENSATION FOR PROVIDING SUCH MANAGEMENT SERVICES. IN THE EVENT OF
THE ASSUMPTION OF THE MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONAL CONTROL OF THE CORPO-
RATION BY THE NEW YORK RACING NETWORK, INC., PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION,
THE CORPORATION WILL CONTINUE TO BE GOVERNED AND OWNED IN A FORM
CONSISTENT WITH GOVERNANCE AND OWNERSHIP EXISTING AT THE TIME OF THE
TRANSFER OF MANAGEMENT. ASSUMPTION BY NEW YORK RACING NETWORK, INC., OF
THE MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONAL CONTROL OF THE CORPORATION SHALL NOT
ALTER THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT OF THE WORKFORCE, AND ANY
CURRENT COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS WITH ITS EMPLOYEE ORGANIZATIONS
SHALL REMAIN IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT.
S 18. The racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law is amended by
adding a new article 6-A to read as follows:
ARTICLE 6-A
NEW YORK RACING NETWORK, INC.
SECTION 625. NEW YORK RACING NETWORK, INC.
626. DISTRIBUTION OF REVENUES.
S 625. NEW YORK RACING NETWORK, INC. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER LAW,
RULE OR REGULATION TO THE CONTRARY, A CORPORATION WHICH SHALL BE NAMED
THE NEW YORK RACING NETWORK, INC. SHALL BE INCORPORATED BY THE FRAN-
CHISED CORPORATION, A THOROUGHBRED RACING CORPORATION AND ONE OR MORE
HARNESS RACING CORPORATIONS WHICH ARE MEMBERS OF THE OFFICIAL COMMITTEE
OF CREDITORS OF THE NEW YORK CITY OFF-TRACK BETTING CORPORATION UNDER
CHAPTER NINE OF THE UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY CODE PURSUANT TO EITHER THE
BUSINESS CORPORATION LAW OR THE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY LAW. THE NEW
YORK RACING NETWORK, INC. SHALL BE AUTHORIZED TO CONDUCT OFF-TRACK
PARI-MUTUEL WAGERING UNDER THIS CHAPTER AND TO DISPLAY THE SIMULCAST OF
HORSE RACES INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THROUGH IN-HOME SIMULCAST AND
VIDEO STREAMING OF RACES ON THE INTERNET ON WHICH PARI-MUTUEL BETTING
SHALL BE PERMITTED SUBJECT TO ARTICLE TEN OF THIS CHAPTER. THE NEW YORK
RACING NETWORK, INC. SHALL ISSUE SHARES TO THE FRANCHISED CORPORATION, A
THOROUGHBRED RACING CORPORATION AND ONE OR MORE HARNESS RACING CORPO-
RATIONS ON A PRO-RATA BASIS BASED ON THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF SUCH CORPO-
RATION'S PRE-PETITION AND POST-PETITION CLAIMS IN A BANKRUPTCY PROCEED-
ING FILED BY THE NEW YORK CITY OFF-TRACK BETTING CORPORATION UNDER
CHAPTER NINE OF THE BANKRUPTCY CODE IN THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW
YORK. THE NEW YORK RACING NETWORK, INC. SHALL BE AUTHORIZED TO APPLY FOR
A SIMULCAST LICENSE PURSUANT TO SECTION ONE THOUSAND THREE OF THIS CHAP-
TER. UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFICALLY PROVIDED, THE NEW YORK RACING
NETWORK, INC. SHALL BE SUBJECT TO ALL REQUIREMENTS OF LAW AND REGU-
LATIONS APPLICABLE TO NEW YORK STATE PARI-MUTUEL BETTING OPERATORS,
INCLUDING APPROVAL OF A PLAN OF OPERATION BY THE RACING AND WAGERING
BOARD. THE SHARES OR MEMBERSHIP INTERESTS IN THE NEW YORK RACING
NETWORK, INC. SHALL NOT BE TRANSFERRED TO PARTIES OTHER THAN THE
ORIGINAL INCORPORATING INTERESTS WITHOUT THE PRIOR WRITTEN APPROVAL OF
THE RACING AND WAGERING BOARD. THE SIMULCAST LICENSE FOR THE NEW YORK
RACING NETWORK, INC. SHALL INCLUDE THE AUTHORIZATION TO SIMULCAST INTO
RESIDENCES, HOMES OR OTHER AREAS THOROUGH EITHER A CABLE TELEVISION
SIGNAL, VIDEO STREAMING USING THE INTERNET OR SIMILAR TECHNOLOGY FOR
TRANSMISSION OF SUCH SIMULCAST SIGNAL WHICH ARE WITHIN THE CITY OF NEW
YORK. NO AGREEMENT OR OTHER WRITTEN CONSENT WITH OR FROM NEW YORK CITY
S. 1 11
OFF-TRACK BETTING SHALL BE REQUIRED TO AUTHORIZE THE AFORESAID SIMUL-
CASTING.
S 626. DISTRIBUTION OF REVENUES. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY LAW, RULE OR
REGULATION TO THE CONTRARY, THE NEW YORK RACING NETWORK, INC. SHALL
DISTRIBUTE ALL SUMS DEPOSITED IN ANY PARI-MUTUEL POOL THROUGH THE NEW
YORK RACING NETWORK, INC. TO THE HOLDERS OF WINNING TICKETS THEREIN,
PROVIDING SUCH TICKETS ARE PRESENTED FOR PAYMENT PRIOR TO APRIL FIRST OF
THE YEAR FOLLOWING THE YEAR OF THEIR PURCHASE. IN THE CASE OF TOTAL
DEPOSITS IN POOLS RESULTING FROM REGULAR, MULTIPLE, EXOTIC OR SUPER
EXOTIC BETS ON THE RACING PROGRAMS OF THE FRANCHISED CORPORATION, A
THOROUGHBRED CORPORATION OR A HARNESS RACING CORPORATION WHICH ARE
SHAREHOLDERS OF THE NEW YORK RACING NETWORK, INC., SUCH BETS SHALL BE
TREATED AS POOLS FOR AN ON-TRACK BET AT SUCH ENTITY AS PROVIDED FOR IN
THIS CHAPTER, EXCEPT THAT ONE PERCENT OF THE TOTAL TAKEOUT IN SUCH POOLS
SHALL BE RETAINED BY THE NEW YORK RACING NETWORK, INC. AS A MANAGEMENT
FEE. IN THE CASE OF TOTAL DEPOSITS IN POOLS RESULTING FROM REGULAR,
MULTIPLE, EXOTIC OR SUPER EXOTIC BETS ON TRACKS LOCATED IN NEW YORK
STATE WHICH ARE NOT SHAREHOLDERS IN NEW YORK RACING NETWORK, INC. OR
ARE MADE ON OUT-OF-STATE OR OUT-OF-COUNTRY RACES SUCH BETS SHALL BE
TREATED AS IF MADE AT A NEW YORK CITY OFF-TRACK BETTING FACILITY WITH
RESPECT TO RETENTION OF TOTAL DEPOSITS IN THE POOL AND PAYMENTS THERE-
FROM.
S 19. Subdivisions 4-a and 5 of section 1012 of the racing, pari-mutu-
el wagering and breeding law, subdivision 4-a as amended by chapter 18
of the laws of 2008 and subdivision 5 as amended by section 11 of part C
of chapter 134 of the laws of 2010, are amended to read as follows:
4-a. For the purposes of this section, "telephone betting accounts"
and "telephone wagering" shall mean and include all those wagers which
utilize any wired or wireless communications device, including but not
limited to wireline telephones, wireless telephones, and the internet,
to DISPLAY LIVE RACES AND SPECIAL EVENTS, AND, NOTWITHSTANDING ANY LAW,
RULE OR REGULATION TO THE CONTRARY, WITH RESPECT TO NEW YORK RACING
NETWORK, INC., IF INTERNET WAGERING IS PROVIDED PURSUANT TO THIS
SECTION, IT SHALL INCLUDE NEW YORK STATE TRACKS WHICH ARE CONDUCTING A
RACE MEET AND A VIDEOSTREAM OF THEIR RACES SHALL BE MADE AVAILABLE UPON
THEIR CONSENT, AND transmit the placement of wagers on races and special
events offered by any regional off-track betting corporation, and any
harness, thoroughbred, quarter horse racing association or corporation
licensed or franchised to conduct pari-mutuel racing in New York state.
5. The provisions of this section shall [expire and be of no further
force and effect after June thirtieth, two thousand eleven] NOT BE
SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION ONE THOUSAND THREE OF THIS ARTICLE,
HOWEVER, NO RACES OR SPECIAL EVENTS SHALL BE DISPLAYED WITHOUT THE
EXPRESS CONSENT OF THE ORIGINATOR OF THE RACES OR SPECIAL EVENTS.
S 20. The racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law is amended by
adding a new section 1013-a to read as follows:
S 1013-A. SIMULCAST SIGNAL OF RACES. UPON THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS
SECTION AND THEREAFTER, THE SIMULCAST SIGNAL OF ALL RACES RUN AT THE
TRACKS OPERATED BY THE FRANCHISED CORPORATION SHALL BE PROVIDED AT NO
COST TO THE NEW YORK CITY OFF-TRACK BETTING CORPORATION FOR DISPLAY FOR
WAGERING PURPOSES IN ITS SIMULCAST FACILITIES.
S 21. Paragraph h of subdivision 1 of section 1014 of the racing,
pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law, as amended by chapter 18 of the
laws of 2008, is amended to read as follows:
h. (1) Licensed harness tracks shall receive, EXCEPT FROM THE NEW YORK
CITY OFF-TRACK BETTING CORPORATION, in lieu of any other payments on
S. 1 12
wagers placed at off-track betting facilities outside the special
betting district on races conducted by an in-state thoroughbred racing
corporation, two and eight-tenths percent on regular and multiple bets
during a regional meeting and one and nine-tenths percent of such bets
if there is no regional meeting and four and eight-tenths percent on
exotic bets on days on which there is a regional meeting and three and
four-tenths percent of such bets if there is no regional meeting.
(2) (i) In addition, licensed harness tracks shall receive, EXCEPT
FROM THE NEW YORK CITY OFF-TRACK BETTING CORPORATION, one and one-half
per centum on total handle on races conducted at an out-of-state or
out-of-country thoroughbred track provided such harness track is neither
accepting wagers nor displaying the signal from an out-of-state track.
(ii) In those regions in which there is more than one licensed harness
track, if no track is accepting wagers or displaying the live simulcast
signal from the out-of-state track, the total sum shall be divided among
the tracks in proportion to the ratio the wagers placed on races
conducted by each track bears to the corporation's total in-region
harness handle. If one or more tracks are accepting wagers or displaying
the live simulcast signal, the total amount shall be divided among those
tracks not accepting wagers or displaying the simulcast signal for an
out-of-state track.
(3) The terms used in this section shall have the same applicability
and meaning as interpreted and applied in sections five hundred twenty-
three and five hundred twenty-seven of this chapter.
S 22. Clause (E) of subparagraph 5 and clause (F) of subparagraph 6 of
paragraph b of subdivision 1 of section 1016 of the racing, pari-mutuel
wagering and breeding law, as amended by chapter 18 of the laws of 2008,
are amended to read as follows:
(E) On days when a franchised corporation is not conducting a race
meeting and when a licensed harness track is neither accepting wagers
nor displaying the signal from an in-state thoroughbred corporation or
association or an out-of-state thoroughbred track:
(i) Such licensed regional harness track shall receive, EXCEPT FROM
THE NEW YORK CITY OFF-TRACK BETTING CORPORATION, in lieu of any other
payments on wagers placed at off-track betting facilities outside the
special betting district on races conducted by an in-state thoroughbred
racing corporation, two and eight-tenths percent on regular and multiple
bets during a regional meeting and one and nine-tenths percent of such
bets if there is no regional meeting and four and eight-tenths percent
on exotic bets on days on which there is a regional meeting and three
and four-tenths percent of such bets if there is no regional meeting.
(ii) Such licensed regional harness track shall receive, EXCEPT FROM
THE NEW YORK CITY OFF-TRACK BETTING CORPORATION, one and one-half per
centum on total regional handle on races conducted at out-of-state or
out-of-country thoroughbred tracks.
(iii) In those regions in which there is more than one licensed
regional harness track, if no track is accepting wagers or displaying
the live simulcast signal from the out-of-state track, the total sum
shall be divided among the tracks in proportion to the ratio the wagers
placed on races conducted by each track bears to the corporation's total
in-region harness handle. If one or more tracks are accepting wagers or
displaying the live simulcast signal, the total amount shall be divided
among those tracks not accepting wagers or displaying the simulcast
signal for an out-of-state track or in-state thoroughbred corporation or
association.
S. 1 13
(F) On days when a franchised corporation is not conducting a race
meeting and when a licensed harness track is neither accepting wagers
nor displaying the signal from an in-state thoroughbred corporation or
association or an out-of-state thoroughbred track:
(i) Such licensed regional harness track shall receive, EXCEPT FROM
THE NEW YORK CITY OFF-TRACK BETTING CORPORATION, in lieu of any other
payments on wagers placed at off-track betting facilities outside the
special betting district on races conducted by an in-state thoroughbred
racing corporation, two and eight-tenths percent on regular and multiple
bets during a regional meeting and one and nine-tenths percent of such
bets if there is no regional meeting and four and eight-tenths percent
on exotic bets on days on which there is a regional meeting and three
and four-tenths percent of such bets if there is no regional meeting.
(ii) Such licensed regional harness track shall receive, EXCEPT FROM
THE NEW YORK CITY OFF-TRACK BETTING CORPORATION, one and one-half per
centum on total regional handle on races conducted at out-of-state or
out-of-country thoroughbred tracks.
(iii) In those regions in which there is more than one licensed
regional harness track, if no track is accepting wagers or displaying
the live simulcast signal from the out-of-state track, the total sum
shall be divided among the tracks in proportion to the ratio the wagers
placed on races conducted by each track bears to the corporation's total
in-region harness handle. If one or more tracks are accepting wagers or
displaying the live simulcast signal, the total amount shall be divided
among those tracks not accepting wagers or displaying the simulcast
signal for an out-of-state track or in-state thoroughbred corporation.
S 23. Subdivision 2 of section 1017 of the racing, pari-mutuel wager-
ing and breeding law, as amended by chapter 18 of the laws of 2008, is
amended to read as follows:
2. a. Maintenance of effort. Any off-track betting corporation, OTHER
THAN THE NEW YORK CITY OFF-TRACK BETTING CORPORATION, which engages in
accepting wagers on the simulcasts of thoroughbred races from out-of-
state or out-of-country as permitted under subdivision one of this
section shall submit to the board, for its approval, a schedule of
payments to be made in any year or portion thereof, that such off-track
corporation engages in nighttime thoroughbred simulcasting. In order to
be approved by the board, the payment schedule shall be identical to the
actual payments and distributions of such payments to tracks and purses
made by such off-track corporation pursuant to the provisions of section
one thousand fifteen of this article during the year two thousand two,
as derived from out-of-state harness races displayed after 6:00 P.M. If
approved by the board, such scheduled payments shall be made from reven-
ues derived from any simulcasting conducted pursuant to this section and
section one thousand fifteen of this article.
b. Additional payments. During each calendar year, to the extent, and
at such time in the event, that aggregate statewide wagering handle
after 7Labor P.M. on out-of-state and out-of-country thoroughbred races,
EXCLUDING THE AMOUNT OF SUCH HANDLE ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE NEW YORK CITY
OFF-TRACK BETTING CORPORATION, exceeds [one hundred] THIRTY-FIVE million
dollars, each off-track betting corporation, OTHER THAN THE NEW YORK
CITY OFF-TRACK BETTING CORPORATION, conducting such simulcasting shall
pay to its regional harness track or tracks, an amount equal to two
percent of its proportionate share of such excess handle. In any region
where there are two or more regional harness tracks, such two percent
shall be divided between or among the tracks in a proportion equal to
the proportion of handle on live harness races conducted at such tracks
S. 1 14
during the preceding calendar year. Fifty percent of the sum received by
each track pursuant to this paragraph shall be used exclusively for
increasing purses, stakes and prizes at that regional harness track.
S 24. Clause (H) of subparagraph (ii) of paragraph 1 of subdivision b
of section 1612 of the tax law, as amended by section 6 of part K of
chapter 57 of the laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows:
(H) notwithstanding clauses (A), (B), (C), (D), (E), (F) and (G) of
this subparagraph, the track operator of a vendor track shall be eligi-
ble for a vendor's capital award of up to four percent of the total
revenue wagered at the vendor track after payout for prizes pursuant to
this chapter, which shall be used exclusively for capital project
investments to improve the facilities of the vendor track which promote
or encourage increased attendance at the video lottery gaming facility
including, but not limited to hotels, other lodging facilities, enter-
tainment facilities, retail facilities, dining facilities, events
arenas, parking garages and other improvements that enhance facility
amenities; provided that such capital investments shall be approved by
the division, in consultation with the state racing and wagering board,
and that such vendor track demonstrates that such capital expenditures
will increase patronage at such vendor track's facilities and increase
the amount of revenue generated to support state education programs. The
annual amount of such vendor's capital awards that a vendor track shall
be eligible to receive shall be limited to two million five hundred
thousand dollars, except for Aqueduct racetrack, for which there shall
be no vendor's capital awards. PROVIDED, HOWEVER, A VENDOR TRACK THAT
RECEIVED A VENDOR FEE PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (F) OF THIS SUBPARAGRAPH AS OF
JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TEN SHALL ONLY BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE A
CAPITAL AWARD FOR APPROVED CAPITAL EXPENDITURES ON OR AFTER MAY FIRST,
TWO THOUSAND TWELVE, IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED ONE AND ONE-HALF PERCENT
OF THE TOTAL REVENUE WAGERED AT SUCH TRACK AFTER PAYOUT FOR PRIZES.
Except for tracks having less than one thousand one hundred video gaming
machines, each track operator shall be required to co-invest an amount
of capital expenditure equal to its cumulative vendor's capital award
FOR ANY CAPITAL INVESTMENTS APPROVED BY THE DIVISION ON OR BEFORE OCTO-
BER THIRTY-FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TEN, AND NO CO-INVESTMENT SHALL BE
REQUIRED FOR A CAPITAL AWARD FOR ANY CAPITAL INVESTMENTS APPROVED BY THE
DIVISION ON OR AFTER NOVEMBER FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TEN. For all tracks,
except for Aqueduct racetrack, the amount of any vendor's capital award
that is not used during any one year period may be carried over into
subsequent years ending before April first, two thousand thirteen. Any
amount attributable to a capital expenditure approved prior to April
first, two thousand thirteen and completed before April first, two thou-
sand fifteen shall be eligible to receive the vendor's capital award. In
the event that a vendor track's capital expenditures, approved by the
division prior to April first, two thousand thirteen and completed prior
to April first, two thousand fifteen, exceed the vendor track's cumula-
tive capital award during the five year period ending April first, two
thousand thirteen, the vendor shall continue to receive the capital
award after April first, two thousand thirteen until such approved capi-
tal expenditures are paid to the vendor track subject to any required
co-investment. In no event shall any vendor track that receives a vendor
fee pursuant to clause [(F) or] (G) of this subparagraph be eligible for
a vendor's capital award under this section. Any operator of a vendor
track which has received a vendor's capital award, choosing to divest
the capital improvement toward which the award was applied, prior to the
full depreciation of the capital improvement in accordance with general-
S. 1 15
ly accepted accounting principles, shall reimburse the state in amounts
equal to the total of any such awards. Any capital award not approved
for a capital expenditure at a video lottery gaming facility by April
first, two thousand thirteen shall be deposited into the state lottery
fund for education aid; and
S 25. Subparagraph (ii) of paragraph 1 of subdivision b of section
1612 of the tax law is amended by adding a new clause (I) to read as
follows:
(I) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY PROVISION TO THE CONTRARY, SUBSIDIZED FREE
PLAY CREDITS AUTHORIZED PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION F OF SECTION SIXTEEN
HUNDRED SEVENTEEN-A OF THIS ARTICLE SHALL NOT BE INCLUDED IN THE CALCU-
LATION OF THE TOTAL AMOUNT WAGERED ON VIDEO LOTTERY GAMES, THE TOTAL
AMOUNT WAGERED AFTER PAYOUT OF PRIZES, THE VENDOR FEES PAYABLE TO THE
OPERATORS OF VIDEO LOTTERY FACILITIES, VENDOR'S CAPITAL AWARDS, VENDOR'S
MARKETING ALLOWANCES, FEES PAYABLE TO THE DIVISION'S VIDEO LOTTERY
GAMING EQUIPMENT CONTRACTORS, OR RACING SUPPORT PAYMENTS.
S 26. Section 1617-a of the tax law is amended by adding a new subdi-
vision f to read as follows:
F. SUBSIDIZED FREE PLAY. 1. THE DIVISION MAY PROMULGATE RULES AND
REGULATIONS OR ISSUE INSTRUCTIONS TO THE VIDEO LOTTERY FACILITY OPERA-
TORS GOVERNING THE ADMINISTRATION AND OPERATION OF A PROGRAM OF SUBSI-
DIZED FREE PLAY CREDITS TO BE OFFERED TO PLAYERS OR PROSPECTIVE PLAYERS
OF VIDEO LOTTERY GAMES FOR THE PURPOSE OF INCREASING REVENUES EARNED BY
THE VIDEO LOTTERY PROGRAM FOR THE SUPPORT OF EDUCATION. FOR THE PURPOSES
OF THIS SUBDIVISION, "SUBSIDIZED FREE PLAY CREDIT" MEANS A SPECIFIED
DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT (I) MAY BE USED BY A PLAYER TO PLAY A VIDEO LOTTERY
GAME WITHOUT PAYING ANY OTHER CONSIDERATION, AND (II) IS NOT USED IN THE
CALCULATION OF TOTAL REVENUE WAGERED AFTER PAYOUT OF PRIZES AND THERE-
FORE SUBSIDIZES THE PROMOTION OF THE VIDEO LOTTERY PROGRAM.
2. FOR EACH VIDEO LOTTERY FACILITY, THE DIVISION SHALL AUTHORIZE THE
USE OF SUBSIDIZED FREE PLAY CREDITS IF THE OPERATOR OF SUCH FACILITY
SUBMITS A WRITTEN PLAN FOR THE USE OF SUBSIDIZED FREE PLAY CREDITS THAT
THE DIVISION DETERMINES IS DESIGNED TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF REVENUE
EARNED BY VIDEO LOTTERY GAMING AT SUCH FACILITY FOR THE SUPPORT OF
EDUCATION.
3. FOR EACH VIDEO LOTTERY FACILITY, THE VALUE OF THE SUBSIDIZED FREE
PLAY CREDITS AUTHORIZED FOR USE ANNUALLY BY THE OPERATOR PURSUANT TO
THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL BE AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO SEVEN AND ONE-HALF PERCENT
OF THE TOTAL AMOUNT WAGERED ON VIDEO LOTTERY GAMES AFTER PAYOUT OF
PRIZES. PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THE VALUE OF THE SUBSIDIZED FREE PLAY CREDITS
AUTHORIZED FOR USE ANNUALLY BY A VIDEO LOTTERY FACILITY OPERATOR AT A
VENDOR TRACK THAT RECEIVES A VENDOR FEE PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (C) OR (F) OF
SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF PARAGRAPH 1 OF SUBDIVISION B OF SECTION SIXTEEN
HUNDRED TWELVE OF THIS ARTICLE SHALL BE AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO TEN PERCENT
OF THE TOTAL AMOUNT WAGERED ON VIDEO LOTTERY GAMES AFTER PAYOUT OF
PRIZES. PROVIDED, FURTHER, THE VALUE OF THE SUBSIDIZED FREE PLAY CREDITS
AUTHORIZED FOR USE ANNUALLY BY A VIDEO LOTTERY FACILITY OPERATOR AT A
VENDOR TRACK THAT RECEIVES A VENDOR FEE PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (D) OR (E) OF
SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF PARAGRAPH 1 OF SUBDIVISION B OF SECTION SIXTEEN
HUNDRED TWELVE OF THIS ARTICLE AND IS NOT WITHIN FIFTEEN MILES OF A
NATIVE AMERICAN CLASS III GAMING FACILITY THAT OPERATED PRIOR TO JANUARY
FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TEN, PURSUANT TO A COMPACT THAT INCLUDES EXCLUSIVITY
PAYMENTS TO THE STATE SHALL BE AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO TEN PERCENT OF THE
TOTAL AMOUNT WAGERED ON VIDEO LOTTERY GAMES AFTER PAYOUT OF PRIZES. A
VIDEO LOTTERY FACILITY OPERATOR MAY USE AN AMOUNT OF SUBSIDIZED FREE
PLAY CREDITS THAT IS LESS THAN THE TOTAL AUTHORIZED, AND THE DIVISION
S. 1 16
SHALL ESTABLISH PROCEDURES TO ASSURE THAT SUBSIDIZED FREE PLAY CREDITS
DO NOT EXCEED THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT ALLOWED PURSUANT TO THIS SUBDIVISION.
4. THE DIVISION, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE DIRECTOR OF THE BUDGET, MAY
SUSPEND UPON NINETY DAYS NOTICE THE USE OF SUBSIDIZED FREE PLAY CREDITS
AUTHORIZED PURSUANT TO THIS SUBDIVISION WHENEVER THEY JOINTLY DETERMINE
THAT THE USE OF SUBSIDIZED FREE PLAY CREDITS HAS RESULTED IN A YEAR OVER
YEAR DECLINE IN THE AMOUNT OF REVENUE EARNED FOR THE SUPPORT OF EDUCA-
TION IN THIS STATE BY VIDEO LOTTERY GAMING AT THE VIDEO LOTTERY FACILI-
TY, AND SUCH USE MAY NOT BE RESUMED UNLESS THE OPERATOR OF SUCH FACILITY
SUBMITS A NEW OR REVISED WRITTEN PLAN FOR THE USE OF SUBSIDIZED FREE
PLAY CREDITS THAT THE DIVISION DETERMINES IS DESIGNED MORE EFFECTIVELY
TO PRODUCE AN INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF REVENUE EARNED BY VIDEO LOTTERY
GAMING AT SUCH FACILITY FOR THE SUPPORT OF EDUCATION.
5. THE DIVISION, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE DIRECTOR OF THE BUDGET, MAY
REVOKE THE AUTHORITY FOR A VENDOR TRACK TO USE SUBSIDIZED FREE PLAY
CREDITS AUTHORIZED PURSUANT TO THIS SUBDIVISION UPON NINETY DAYS NOTICE
WHENEVER THEY JOINTLY DETERMINE THAT THE OPERATOR OF A VIDEO LOTTERY
FACILITY HAS VIOLATED THE RULES AND REGULATIONS ESTABLISHED OR ANY
INSTRUCTIONS ISSUED BY THE DIVISION GOVERNING THE SUBSIDIZED FREE PLAY
PROGRAM. THE DIVISION SHALL ESTABLISH CRITERIA TO REINSTATE SUBSIDIZED
FREE PLAY AT A VENDOR TRACK FOLLOWING THE REVOCATION OF THE AUTHORITY TO
USE SUBSIDIZED FREE PLAY CREDITS.
6. NOTHING IN THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL BE DEEMED TO PROHIBIT THE OPERA-
TOR OF A VIDEO LOTTERY FACILITY FROM OFFERING NON-SUBSIDIZED FREE PLAY
CREDITS TO PLAYERS OR PROSPECTIVE PLAYERS OF VIDEO LOTTERY GAMES WHEN
THE VALUE OF SUCH FREE PLAY CREDITS IS INCLUDED IN THE CALCULATION OF
THE TOTAL AMOUNT WAGERED ON VIDEO LOTTERY GAMES AND THE TOTAL AMOUNT
WAGERED AFTER PAYOUT OF PRIZES, AND THE OPERATOR OF SUCH FACILITY PAYS
THE DIVISION THE FULL AMOUNT DUE AS THE RESULT OF SUCH CALCULATIONS.
7. THE DIVISION MAY AMEND THE CONTRACT WITH THE PROVIDER OF THE
CENTRAL COMPUTER SYSTEM THAT CONTROLS THE VIDEO LOTTERY NETWORK DURING
THE TERM OF SUCH CONTRACT IN EFFECT ON THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SUBDI-
VISION TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATION TO SUCH PROVIDER IN AN AMOUNT
DETERMINED BY THE DIVISION TO BE NECESSARY TO COMPENSATE FOR (I) PROC-
ESSING SUBSIDIZED FREE PLAY TRANSACTIONS, AND (II) SYSTEM UPDATES AND
MODIFICATIONS OTHERWISE NEEDED AS OF SUCH EFFECTIVE DATE.
S 27. Severability. If any clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision,
section or part of this act shall be adjudged by any court of competent
jurisdiction to be invalid, such judgment shall not affect, impair, or
invalidate the remainder thereof, but shall be confined in its operation
to the clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, section or part thereof
directly involved in the controversy in which the judgment shall have
been rendered. It is hereby declared to be the intent of the legisla-
ture that this act would have been enacted even if such invalid
provisions had not been included herein.
S 28. This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that
sections six, seventeen, twenty-four, twenty-five, and twenty-six of
this act shall take effect on the same date as the New York city off-
track betting corporation's confirmation of a plan of reorganization in
the pending bankruptcy proceeding in the Southern District of New York;
provided that the board of directors of the New York city off-track
betting corporation shall notify the legislative bill drafting commis-
sion upon the occurrence of such confirmation of such plan of reorgan-
ization in order that the commission may maintain an accurate and timely
effective data base of the official text of the laws of the state of New
S. 1 17
York in furtherance of effectuating the provisions of section 44 of the
legislative law and section 70-b of the public officers law.
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