NY State Senate Bill 2023-S1956

Senate Bill S1956

2023-2024 Legislative Session

Mandates a fixed percentage for annual harness horse breeders awards and requires that all sire stakes funds generated by a specific racetrack be returned as purses to such track at the same level

download bill text pdf

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Racing, Gaming And Wagering Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Actions

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 03, 2024	referred to racing, gaming and wagering
Jan 17, 2023	referred to racing, gaming and wagering

2023-S1956 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A3565
Current Committee:: Senate Racing, Gaming And Wagering
Law Section:: Racing, Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Breeding Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §332, RWB L
Versions Introduced in 2021-2022 Legislative Session:: S9017, A10023

2023-S1956 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Mandates a fixed percentage of annual harness horse breeders awards; requires that all sire stakes funds generated by a specific racetrack be returned as purses to such track at the same level in order to allow New York to compete with states that have stronger awards programs.

2023-S1956 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S1956

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 otherwise 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:

2022: S. 9017 - Referred to Racing, Gaming and Wagering

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

None noted.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediate.

2023-S1956 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   1956
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 17, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. ADDABBO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Racing, Gaming and  Wager-
   ing
 
 AN  ACT  to  amend the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law, in
   relation to mandating a  fixed  percentage  of  annual  harness  horse
   breeders  awards and requiring that all sire stakes funds generated by
   a specific racetrack be returned as purses to such track at  the  same
   level
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The opening paragraph and paragraph f of subdivision  1  of
 section  332  of  the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law, the
 opening paragraph as amended by chapter 429 of  the  laws  of  2008  and
 paragraph f as amended by chapter 56 of the laws of 1991, are amended to
 read as follows:
   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

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD04723-01-3

 S. 1956                             2
 
 exotic betting pools, shall be  one  per  centum,  and  to  collect  and
 receive  such  funds  as  may otherwise 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, WITH THE BALANCE DISTRIBUTED TO EACH TRACK MADE IN PROPORTION
 TO SUCH TRACK'S CONTRIBUTION FROM ALL REVENUE SOURCES FROM  SUCH  TRACK,
 MADE  TO THE FUND, BEARS TO THE TOTAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE FUND FROM ALL
 SUCH TRACKS. EACH TRACK CONTRIBUTING TO  THE  FUND  SHALL  UTILIZE  SUCH
 MONIES  PAID  TO  IT  FOR  PURSES, PRIZES AND PREMIUMS FOR NEW YORK-BRED
 HARNESS HORSES:
   f. An amount as shall be determined by the fund but shall not 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]  SHALL  be used exclusively for breeders' awards for New York-breds
 and awards to owners of eligible stallions.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

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