Senate Bill S9017

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S9017

SPONSOR: ADDABBO
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law, in
relation to mandating a fixed percentage of annual harness horse breed-
ers awards and requiring that all sire stakes funds generated by a
specific racetrack be returned as purses to such track at the same level

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF THE BILL:

This bill would address the ongoing reduction in mares and stallions
facing the NYS harness horse breeding industry by fixing the percentage
of breeders awards distributed each year at 201 of the funds in the NYS
Ag Fund assigned for "New York State breeding farms." Current law allows
annual total award amounts to fluctuate anywhere between 10n and 20'_
based on the discretion of the Fund, and fixing the amount at 201 will
create a robust awards program and attract mares and stallions by offer-
ing stability and predictability in the breeders award process. Addi-
tionally, of the remaining 803 returned to tracks from the Fund for
purses, all Sire Stakes purse payments shall be returned to the tracks
at the same level as they were generated by racing at that track. Howev-
              

er, said purse payments would not be mandated solely for Sire Stakes
finals/legs, but could also be utilized for related New York Sire Stakes
events.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

PROVISION 1:

Article 3, paragraph 332 of the Racing, Parimutuel Wagering and Breeding
will be amended as follows: Subsection 1.f

f. An amount as shall be determined by the fund but shall riot be less
than seventy-five percent thereof in an account designated "New York
state breeding farms", and of such amount not less than ten percent nor
more than twenty percent as determined by the trustees of the fund may
be used exclusively for breeders' awards for New York-breds and awards
to owners of eligible stallions.

PROVISION 2:

Article 3, paragraph 332 of the Racing, Parimutuel Wagering and Breeding
will be amended as follows: Subsection 1.

§ 332. Resources of fund. The fund is authorized and directed:

1. To collect and receive in each calendar year amounts to be paid to
the fund by the persons or corporations licensed to conduct pari-mutuel
betting at harness racing tracks, an amount equal to three-fifths of one
per centum of all moneys deposited in pari-mutuel betting pools result-
ing from on-track bets at all races conducted by licensees at a harness
horse meeting or races run thereat except that for super exotic betting
pools such amount shall be three per centum of such bets, as provided by
paragraph c of subdivision one of section three hundred eighteen of this
article and to collect and receive in each calendar year to be paid to
the fund by each regional corporation, an amount equal to three-fifths
of one per centum of daily pools derived from off-track bets on harness
races except that for super exotic betting pools such amount shall be
three per centum of such bets as provided by subdivision five of section
five hundred twenty-seven of this chapter; provided however, that after
April first, nineteen hundred eighty-six, the amount to be collected and
received from such licensees and regional corporations, except for super
exotic betting pools, shall be one per centum, and to collect and
receive such funds as may otherwis e be authorized by law. The moneys
shall be deposited forthwith in a bank or banks in this state. The fund
is authorized to dispose of and distribute the monies received by it
pursuant to the provisions of this chapter for the following purpose and
no others,

 
JUSTIFICATION:

New York State is facing a continuing shortage in harness horse mares,
which is the result of both reduced breeders awards and uncertainty
year-to-year as to what levels of awards will be provided by the Ag
Fund. Businesses, including breeders, require market stability and
consistency in order to invest their resources in New York State. To
address this, the 180 day Residency Breeders' Award Program will be
strengthened by providing a stable level of meaningful committed funds
each year that will allow New York to compete with states with stronger
awards programs like Kentucky and Pennsylvania. Furthermore, to create
allocate Sire Stakes purses at the same levels as the funds were gener-
ated by specific tracks.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

This is new legislation.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

None noted.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediate.