S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
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10240
I N A S S E M B L Y
February 12, 2026
___________
Introduced by M. of A. WOERNER -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Racing and Wagering
AN ACT to amend the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law, in
relation to additional qualifications for the board members of
regional off-track betting corporations
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 502 of the racing, pari-mutuel
wagering and breeding law, as amended by chapter 710 of the laws of
1990, is amended to read as follows:
1. A. A regional off-track betting corporation is hereby established
for each region, except the New York city region for which the New York
city off-track betting corporation established pursuant to and subject
to article six of this chapter shall constitute the regional corporation
and such article six shall govern such New York city off-track betting
corporation. Each regional corporation shall be a body corporate and
politic constituting a public benefit corporation. Each corporation
shall be administered by a board of directors consisting of two members
from each participating county containing a city of over one hundred
fifty thousand in population, according to the last federal census, and
one member from each other participating county. Notwithstanding any
other provision of law to the contrary, the members shall be appointed
by the county governing body, and may, at the discretion of such govern-
ing body of counties which have a population of less than two hundred
thousand, include sitting members of such governing body. A member of a
governing body who is appointed a director after July first, nineteen
hundred ninety shall not be compensated by the regional corporation;
provided, however, that the mayor of a city of over one hundred fifty
thousand that has elected to participate in the management of a corpo-
ration pursuant to subdivision two of this section shall, with the
approval of the city's legislative body, appoint one of the members to
which the county containing such city is entitled. In the case of the
corporation established for the Suffolk region and Nassau region, the
board of directors of each corporation shall consist of three members
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14846-01-6
A. 10240 2
appointed by the governing body of each county, not more than two of
whom shall be members of the same political party. Each director shall
serve at the pleasure of the governing body or mayor appointing [him]
SUCH DIRECTOR, as the case may be. A [chairman] CHAIR shall be elected
by the members to serve a term of one year.
B. (I) NO PERSON WHO HAS SERVED AS AN OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE OF THE
CORPORATION SHALL WITHIN A PERIOD OF FOUR YEARS AFTER THE TERMINATION OF
SUCH SERVICE OR EMPLOYMENT BE APPOINTED OR QUALIFIED AS A MEMBER OF, OR
APPEAR OR PRACTICE BEFORE, THE CORPORATION, OR RECEIVE COMPENSATION FOR
ANY SERVICES RENDERED BY SUCH FORMER OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE ON BEHALF OF
THE CORPORATION OR ANY OTHER PERSON, FIRM, CORPORATION OR ASSOCIATION IN
RELATION TO ANY PROCEEDING OR APPLICATION OR OTHER MATTER BEFORE SUCH
CORPORATION.
(II) NO PERSON WHO HAS SERVED AS A MEMBER OF THE CORPORATION SHALL
WITHIN A PERIOD OF FOUR YEARS AFTER THAT PERSON'S TERMINATION OF SUCH
SERVICE REGARDLESS OF THE REASON FOR TERMINATION RECEIVE COMPENSATION
FOR ANY SERVICES ON BEHALF OF ANY PERSON, FIRM, CORPORATION OR ASSOCI-
ATION TO PROMOTE OR OPPOSE, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, THE PASSAGE OF
RESOLUTIONS BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. NO MEMBER SHALL WITHIN A PERIOD
OF FOUR YEARS AFTER TERMINATION OF SUCH SERVICE REGARDLESS OF THE REASON
FOR TERMINATION RECEIVE COMPENSATION FOR ANY SERVICES ON BEHALF OF ANY
PERSON, FIRM, CORPORATION OR ASSOCIATION TO APPEAR, PRACTICE OR DIRECTLY
COMMUNICATE BEFORE THE CORPORATION TO PROMOTE OR OPPOSE THE PASSAGE OF
RESOLUTIONS BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
(III) NO PERSON WHO HAS PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS SHALL BE ELIGIBLE FOR REAPPOINTMENT TO THE BOARD ONCE THAT
MEMBER'S SERVICE HAS TERMINATED, REGARDLESS OF THE REASON FOR TERMI-
NATION. THIS PROHIBITION SHALL APPLY IMMEDIATELY, INDEFINITELY AND WITH-
OUT EXCEPTION.
C. NO PERSON WHO IS APPOINTED TO BE A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MAY ATTEND OR PARTICIPATE IN ANY BOARD MEETINGS, INCLUDING EXECUTIVE
SESSIONS, UNTIL THAT PERSON'S APPLICATION FOR A LICENSE HAS BEEN
APPROVED BY THE COMMISSION.
§ 2. Subdivisions 6 and 7 of section 502-a of the racing, pari-mutuel
wagering and breeding law are renumbered subdivisions 7 and 8 and a new
subdivision 6 is added to read as follows:
6. A. (I) NO PERSON WHO HAS SERVED AS AN OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE OF THE
CORPORATION SHALL WITHIN A PERIOD OF FOUR YEARS AFTER THE TERMINATION OF
SUCH SERVICE OR EMPLOYMENT BE APPOINTED OR QUALIFIED AS A MEMBER OF, OR
APPEAR OR PRACTICE BEFORE, THE CORPORATION, OR RECEIVE COMPENSATION FOR
ANY SERVICES RENDERED BY SUCH FORMER OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE ON BEHALF OF
THE CORPORATION OR ANY OTHER PERSON, FIRM, CORPORATION OR ASSOCIATION IN
RELATION TO ANY PROCEEDING OR APPLICATION OR OTHER MATTER BEFORE SUCH
CORPORATION.
(II) NO PERSON WHO HAS SERVED AS A MEMBER OF THE CORPORATION SHALL
WITHIN A PERIOD OF FOUR YEARS AFTER THAT PERSON'S TERMINATION OF SUCH
SERVICE REGARDLESS OF THE REASON FOR TERMINATION RECEIVE COMPENSATION
FOR ANY SERVICES ON BEHALF OF ANY PERSON, FIRM, CORPORATION OR ASSOCI-
ATION TO PROMOTE OR OPPOSE, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, THE PASSAGE OF
RESOLUTIONS BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. NO MEMBER SHALL WITHIN A PERIOD
OF FOUR YEARS AFTER TERMINATION OF SUCH SERVICE REGARDLESS OF THE REASON
FOR TERMINATION RECEIVE COMPENSATION FOR ANY SERVICES ON BEHALF OF ANY
PERSON, FIRM, CORPORATION OR ASSOCIATION TO APPEAR, PRACTICE OR DIRECTLY
COMMUNICATE BEFORE THE CORPORATION TO PROMOTE OR OPPOSE THE PASSAGE OF
RESOLUTIONS BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
A. 10240 3
(III) NO PERSON WHO HAS PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS SHALL BE ELIGIBLE FOR REAPPOINTMENT TO THE BOARD ONCE THAT
MEMBER'S SERVICE HAS TERMINATED, REGARDLESS OF THE REASON FOR TERMI-
NATION. THIS PROHIBITION SHALL APPLY IMMEDIATELY, INDEFINITELY AND WITH-
OUT EXCEPTION.
B. NO PERSON WHO IS APPOINTED TO BE A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MAY ATTEND OR PARTICIPATE IN ANY BOARD MEETINGS, INCLUDING EXECUTIVE
SESSIONS, UNTIL THAT PERSON'S APPLICATION FOR A LICENSE HAS BEEN
APPROVED BY THE COMMISSION.
§ 3. Subdivision 2 of section 603 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. A. Of the directors, one shall be appointed for a term ending on
December thirty-first, two thousand nine, one for a term ending on
December thirty-first, two thousand ten, one for a term ending on Decem-
ber thirty-first, two thousand twelve, and the two directors appointed
on the recommendation of the temporary president of the senate and the
speaker of the assembly, for a term ending December thirty-first, two
thousand fourteen. Upon the expiration of such terms, the terms of
office of their successors shall be six years. Vacancies occurring
otherwise than by expiration of term shall be filled for the unexpired
term.
B. (I) NO PERSON WHO HAS SERVED AS AN OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE OF THE
CORPORATION SHALL WITHIN A PERIOD OF FOUR YEARS AFTER THE TERMINATION OF
SUCH SERVICE OR EMPLOYMENT BE APPOINTED OR QUALIFIED AS A MEMBER OF, OR
APPEAR OR PRACTICE BEFORE, THE CORPORATION, OR RECEIVE COMPENSATION FOR
ANY SERVICES RENDERED BY SUCH FORMER OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE ON BEHALF OF
THE CORPORATION OR ANY OTHER PERSON, FIRM, CORPORATION OR ASSOCIATION IN
RELATION TO ANY PROCEEDING OR APPLICATION OR OTHER MATTER BEFORE SUCH
CORPORATION.
(II) NO PERSON WHO HAS SERVED AS A MEMBER OF THE CORPORATION SHALL
WITHIN A PERIOD OF FOUR YEARS AFTER THAT PERSON'S TERMINATION OF SUCH
SERVICE REGARDLESS OF THE REASON FOR TERMINATION RECEIVE COMPENSATION
FOR ANY SERVICES ON BEHALF OF ANY PERSON, FIRM, CORPORATION OR ASSOCI-
ATION TO PROMOTE OR OPPOSE, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, THE PASSAGE OF
RESOLUTIONS BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. NO MEMBER SHALL WITHIN A PERIOD
OF FOUR YEARS AFTER TERMINATION OF SUCH SERVICE REGARDLESS OF THE REASON
FOR TERMINATION RECEIVE COMPENSATION FOR ANY SERVICES ON BEHALF OF ANY
PERSON, FIRM, CORPORATION OR ASSOCIATION TO APPEAR, PRACTICE OR DIRECTLY
COMMUNICATE BEFORE THE CORPORATION TO PROMOTE OR OPPOSE THE PASSAGE OF
RESOLUTIONS BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
(III) NO PERSON WHO HAS PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS SHALL BE ELIGIBLE FOR REAPPOINTMENT TO THE BOARD ONCE THAT
MEMBER'S SERVICE HAS TERMINATED, REGARDLESS OF THE REASON FOR TERMI-
NATION. THIS PROHIBITION SHALL APPLY IMMEDIATELY, INDEFINITELY AND WITH-
OUT EXCEPTION.
C. NO PERSON WHO IS APPOINTED TO BE A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MAY ATTEND OR PARTICIPATE IN ANY BOARD MEETINGS, INCLUDING EXECUTIVE
SESSIONS, UNTIL THAT PERSON'S APPLICATION FOR A LICENSE HAS BEEN
APPROVED BY THE COMMISSION.
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that
the amendments to section 502-a of the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and
breeding law made by section two of this act shall not affect the expi-
ration and repeal of such section and shall be deemed repealed there-
with.