S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
1408
2009-2010 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
(PREFILED)
January 7, 2009
___________
Introduced by M. of A. WRIGHT, CYMBROWITZ, MARKEY, P. RIVERA, FIELDS --
Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. ALFANO, BARRA, GOTTFRIED, LENTOL,
PEOPLES, REILLY, N. RIVERA -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Racing and Wagering
AN ACT to amend the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law and
the tax law, in relation to funding for a sound basic education
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Legislative intent. The state of New York has an obligation
under its constitution to provide its children with a sound basic educa-
tion as recently and explicitly expressed in the Court of Appeals deci-
sion in CAMPAIGN FOR FISCAL EQUITY V. STATE. In order to comply with
such holding and constitutional duty, the legislature hereby finds that
new and continuing funding streams are necessary to meet such duty. The
legislature further finds that the existing and primary funding mech-
anism for education in this state, the real property tax, has histor-
ically been imposed by local governments and state support for education
should and is intended to rectify uneven revenue yields from that source
of revenue due to local prevailing market forces.
Supplementing the local property tax is necessary to assure that chil-
dren residing in areas of high need for educational services that also
have a small tax base can receive the same fiscal resources that more
fortunate areas of the state utilize to educate our children. Each child
is entitled to substantially similar resources. To achieve this end in a
manner that will not unnecessarily displace or reduce the support for
other vulnerable populations, the legislature hereby finds that licen-
sees of the newly created video lottery terminals, the division of the
lottery and other such beneficiaries will be receiving a substantial new
form of revenue due to recently enacted legislation and can absorb a
reduction in income from other sources at this time. The reductions and
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00369-01-9
A. 1408 2
transfers in this act will provide for a continuing and substantial
revenue source for the state to partially fund its obligation to
adequately educate every child in this state.
S 2. The racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law is amended by
adding a new section 912 to read as follows:
S 912. FUNDING FOR SOUND BASIC EDUCATION. 1. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY LAW,
REGULATION OR RULE TO THE CONTRARY, ANY PAYMENT UNDER ARTICLES FIVE AND
TEN OF THIS CHAPTER REQUIRED TO BE MADE BY AN OFF-TRACK BETTING CORPO-
RATION ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO SECTIONS FIVE HUNDRED TWO AND SIX HUNDRED
THREE OF THIS CHAPTER TO A REGIONAL TRACK, OTHER THAN FEES OR COMPEN-
SATION ARISING FROM RACES CONDUCTED BY A REGIONAL TRACK, SHALL BE MADE
PURSUANT TO THE FOLLOWING SCHEDULE AFTER SUCH TRACK HAS BEEN LICENSED
AND IS CONDUCTING VIDEO LOTTERY GAMING PURSUANT TO SECTION SIXTEEN
HUNDRED SEVENTEEN-A OF THE TAX LAW:
A. TWENTY PER CENTUM OF THE SUM REQUIRED BY THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLES
FIVE AND TEN OF THIS CHAPTER SHALL BE RETAINED BY THE OFF-TRACK BETTING
CORPORATION MAKING SUCH PAYMENT FOR ITS NECESSARY AND ORDINARY OPERATING
EXPENSES; AND
B. THE REMAINDER SHALL BE TRANSFERRED TO THE REGIONAL TRACK IN ACCORD-
ANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLES FIVE AND TEN OF THIS CHAPTER AND OF
THE SUM RECEIVED BY SUCH TRACK, ONE-THIRD SHALL BE PROMPTLY TRANSFERRED
TO THE HORSEMEN'S PURSE ACCOUNT TO BE USED EXCLUSIVELY FOR PURSES
AWARDED IN RACES CONDUCTED BY SUCH TRACK AND THE REMAINING AMOUNT OF
SUCH SUM SHALL BE PROMPTLY TRANSFERRED TO THE STATE COMPTROLLER FOR
DEPOSIT IN THE SOUND BASIC EDUCATION FUND MAINTAINED BY SUCH COMP-
TROLLER.
2. ANY TRANSFER REQUIRED OF A REGIONAL TRACK PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION
ONE OF THIS SECTION SHALL BE MADE WITHIN SEVEN BUSINESS DAYS OF RECEIPT
OF ANY SUM FROM AN OFF-TRACK BETTING CORPORATION AND ANY TRACK THAT
FAILS TO DO SO ON THREE OR MORE OCCASIONS WITHIN A YEAR OF THE FIRST
SUCH FAILURE, SHALL CONSTITUTE PRESUMPTIVE EVIDENCE OF ANY ELEMENT OF
INTENT IN A CRIME DEFINED UNDER ARTICLE ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-FIVE OF THE
PENAL LAW IN ANY PROSECUTION OF SUCH CRIME AGAINST THE CHIEF OPERATING
OFFICER AND/OR THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER OF SUCH TRACK.
S 3. Paragraph 2 of subdivision c of section 1612 of the tax law, as
amended by section 2 of part CC of chapter 61 of the laws of 2005, is
amended to read as follows:
2. Of the ten percent retained by the division for administrative
purposes, any amounts beyond that which are necessary for the operation
and administration of this pilot program shall be deposited in the
[lottery education account] SOUND BASIC EDUCATION FUND MAINTAINED BY THE
STATE COMPTROLLER.
S 4. Section 1614 of the tax law is amended by adding a new subdivi-
sion c to read as follows:
C. THE DIRECTOR SHALL PROVIDE WRITTEN NOTIFICATION TO THE DIRECTOR OF
THE BUDGET, THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND THE
CHAIRPERSON OF THE ASSEMBLY WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE ON A QUARTERLY
BASIS OF THE TOTAL AMOUNT MAINTAINED BY THE DIVISION AS UNCLAIMED OR
ABANDONED PRIZE MONEY UNDER THIS SECTION, AND SET FORTH THE JUSTIFICA-
TION FOR THE RETENTION OF ANY SUM BY THE DIVISION IN EXCESS OF FIFTY
MILLION FOR ANY PURPOSE OTHER THAN THE TRANSFER OF SUCH EXCESS TO THE
SOUND BASIC EDUCATION FUND MAINTAINED BY THE STATE COMPTROLLER ON OR
BEFORE THE THIRTIETH DAY AFTER THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE FOLLOWING FISCAL
YEAR. UNLESS SUCH JUSTIFICATION FOR RETENTION BY THE DIVISION IS
ACCEPTED IN WRITING BY ALL THREE RECIPIENTS OF SUCH NOTICE AS PROVIDED
IN THIS SUBDIVISION, TRANSFER OF THE EXCESS TO SUCH FUND SHALL OCCUR NO
A. 1408 3
LATER THAN THE THIRTIETH DAY AFTER THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE NEXT NEW
FISCAL YEAR.
S 5. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth of September next
succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.