Relates to distributing purse monies more equitably

• Democratic2

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Patricia Fahy says this is needed

For decades, NYRA has benefitted from a unique privilege under the Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978 ("IHA"). Unlike most track operators throughout the country whose right to consent to an off-track betting system accepting interstate off-track wagers hinges on the track opera- tor having a written agreement with the applicable horsemen's group to set forth the terms and conditions related to such consent, NYRA has no such obligation. Instead, federal law exempts NYRA from the requirement to negotiate basic industry terms with its horsemen, because NYRA is a not-for-profit racing association "in a State where the distribution of off-track betting revenues ... is set forth by State law." This bill emulates the overarching spirit of the IHA by updating NYS law to provide basic fairness and equity to New York horsemen by requiring NYRA to obtain their written consent as a condition precedent to deter mining the allocation and distribution of purse monies. This bill also clarifies that any payment obligation required by law from the purse accounts established pursuant to PMI, § 208 shall not be subject to the written consent of the horsemen.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.