NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A10429
SPONSOR: Woerner TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law, in
relation to the New York racing association, and to repeal certain
provisions of such law relating thereto
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To provide for the transfer of the New York Racing Association (NYRA)
from public to private control.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Repeals subdivision 1 of section 207 of the racing, pari-mu-
tuel wagering and breeding law and replaces it with a new subdivision 1.
This provides for a new NYRA board composed of 15 members as follows: 2
appointed by the Governor; 1 appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly; 1
appointed by the Temporary President of the Senate; 1 to be the Chief
Executive Officer of NYRA; 1 appointed by the New York Thoroughbred
Breeders, Inc. (provided that they approve a NYRA board member on their
board); 1 appointed by the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association
(provided that they approve a NYRA board member on their board); and 8
to be chosen by the Executive Committee of the current NYRA reorganiza-
tional board, of which 1 member each must be from Nassau, Queens and
Saratoga counties. Additionally, it provides for the terms of office of
the members, the standing committees of the NYRA board and the process
for incorporation.
Section 2: Effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
Chapter 457 of the Laws of 2012 provided for the transfer of control of
NYRA to a publicly controlled reorganization board which was tasked with
temporarily managing the racing franchise. The time has come for the
board to transition back to private control and this legislation
provides for that transition.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
FISCAL IMPLICATION:
Minimal to State.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect October 18, 2016.
