S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                  3706

                       2013-2014 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                            February 11, 2013
                               ___________

Introduced by Sens. LANZA, GOLDEN, ADDABBO, GIANARIS, KLEIN, MONTGOMERY,
  SAMPSON  --  read  twice  and  ordered printed, and when printed to be
  committed to the Committee on Finance

AN ACT to amend the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and  breeding  law,  in
  relation to provision of health insurance and supplemental benefits to
  retirees  of  the  New  York  city  off-track betting corporation; and
  making an appropriation therefor

  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 interest
in the welfare of its citizens, and the general welfare  of  its  senior
citizens  is a matter of great public concern to the state.  On December
7, 2010, the New York city off-track betting corporation, a public bene-
fit corporation created in 1973 pursuant to article VI  of  the  racing,
pari-mutual wagering and breeding law ceased operations. The legislature
finds  that,  since  its inception, off-track betting in the city of New
York provided the state with significant revenues to support  government
operations. The legislature further finds that after the governor issued
an  executive  order to allow the New York city off-track betting corpo-
ration to file for bankruptcy pursuant to Chapter 9 of the United States
Bankruptcy Code, the unions representing the employees of such off-track
betting corporation worked tirelessly to assist the corporation  in  its
restructuring  efforts,  including  two collective bargaining agreements
wherein the employees made significant concessions, including  voluntary
separation  from  the  corporation, in order to save the corporation and
assist their fellow employees.
  The legislature further finds that employees retired from such  corpo-
ration,  after  having received the assurance that they and their depen-
dants would receive health insurance and supplemental  benefit  coverage
under  their  collective  bargaining  representative's  welfare  benefit

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD07127-01-3

              

S. 3706                             2

program. After the closure of the New York city off-track betting corpo-
ration, those benefits ceased.
  The  legislature  further  finds  that  cessation of these benefits to
public employees who have devoted their working lives to  service  of  a
state  public  benefit  corporation works a great injustice and a severe
hardship to the retirees and their  dependants,  thereby  putting  their
health and very lives in danger.
  The  legislature  further  finds  that  by  honoring the commitment to
provide health insurance and supplemental benefits to  retirees  of  the
New  York  city  off-track  betting corporation, the state reaffirms its
commitment to ameliorate the deleterious impact  which  the  closure  of
such corporation has had upon the citizens of the state.
  S  2. Subdivision 4 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:
  4.  All  [employees  and  officers] PRESENT AND FUTURE RETIREES of the
corporation in classes or  positions  whose  incumbents,  in  equivalent
classes or positions of the city, are eligible, as of the effective date
hereof, to participate in, and receive benefits from any city authorized
health  insurance  or  welfare  benefit  program,  shall  be eligible to
participate in, and receive benefits from any such health  insurance  or
welfare benefit program; provided, however, that the [corporation] STATE
shall reimburse the city or its designee for the actual cost of benefits
under this subdivision.
  S 3. The sum of seven million dollars ($7,000,000), or so much thereof
as  may  be necessary, is hereby appropriated to the department of civil
service out of any moneys in the state treasury in the general  fund  to
the credit of the aid to localities account, not otherwise appropriated,
and  made  immediately  available,  for  the purpose of carrying out the
provisions of this act. Such moneys shall be payable on  the  audit  and
warrant  of  the  comptroller  on  vouchers certified or approved by the
president of the civil service commission in the  manner  prescribed  by
law.
  S 4. This act shall take effect immediately.