S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
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10145
I N A S S E M B L Y
May 10, 2024
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Introduced by COMMITTEE ON RULES -- (at request of M. of A. Pretlow) --
read once and referred to the Committee on Racing and Wagering
AN ACT to amend the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law, in
relation to the creation of the jockey health insurance reserve fund
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 221-a of the racing, pari-mutuel
wagering and breeding law, as amended by chapter 243 of the laws of
2020, is amended to read as follows:
1. A franchised corporation shall, as a condition of racing, establish
a program to administer the purchase of health insurance for eligible
jockeys.
(A) Such program shall be funded through the deposit of one and one-
half percent of the gross purse enhancement amount from video lottery
gaming at a thoroughbred track pursuant to paragraph two of subdivision
b and paragraph one of subdivision f of section sixteen hundred twelve
of the tax law. The franchised corporation shall establish a segregated
account for the receipt of these monies and these monies shall remain
separate from any other funds. Any corporation or association licensed
pursuant to this article shall pay into such account any amount due
within ten days of the receipt of revenue pursuant to section sixteen
hundred twelve of the tax law. Any portion of such funding to the
account unused during a calendar year, less an amount sufficient to
cover anticipated premium liabilities over the next sixty days, shall be
[returned on a pro rata basis in accordance with the amounts originally
contributed and shall be used for the purpose of enhancing purses at
such tracks] DEPOSITED INTO THE RESERVE FUND ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO
PARAGRAPH (B) OF THIS SUBDIVISION. Provided, however, if a corporation
or association licensed pursuant to this article provides an alternative
source of funding for this program, an amount equal to this alternative
funding, but not in excess of the amount originally contributed during
the year from the gross purse enhancement amount from video lottery
gaming attributable to such corporation or association, shall be
returned to the corporation or association and used for the purpose of
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD15452-03-4
A. 10145 2
enhancing purses at such track. Provided, further, any such alternative
source of funding must be approved by the commission.
(B) PROVIDED, HOWEVER, AN ADDITIONAL SEGREGATED ACCOUNT MAY BE ESTAB-
LISHED WITH SUCH MONIES AS A RESERVE FUND FOR THE PAYMENT OF PREMIUMS
NOT YET PAID. THE AMOUNT PAID INTO SUCH FUND DURING ANY CALENDAR YEAR,
IF ANY, SHALL BE UPON THE APPROVAL OF THE FRANCHISED CORPORATION AND THE
JOCKEY'S ORGANIZATION THAT REPRESENTS AT LEAST FIFTY-ONE PERCENT OF
ELIGIBLE ACTIVE JOCKEYS. IF, AFTER THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SUCH FUND, A
DETERMINATION IS MADE THAT SUCH FUND IS NO LONGER NEEDED, THE MONIES
REMAINING IN SUCH FUND SHALL BE RETURNED ON A PRO RATA BASIS IN ACCORD-
ANCE WITH THE AMOUNTS ORIGINALLY CONTRIBUTED AND SHALL BE USED FOR THE
PURPOSES OF ENHANCING PURSES AT SUCH TRACKS.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.