What's happening
This bill creates a Racing Fan Advisory Council to advise and engage the public on horse racing issues in New York State.
Why it matters
Ensures Fan Representation. By excluding industry insiders and requiring council members to be long-term, knowledgeable fans, the bill aims to give racing enthusiasts direct influence over policy—potentially leading to decisions that better reflect the interests and experiences of regular attendees and bettors, rather than just industry stakeholders.
Promotes Transparency and Engagement. The council is tasked with making regulatory decisions—especially those of stewards and judges that affect betting—more transparent to the public, and with actively engaging fans to make the sport more accessible and appealing, which could boost both attendance and trust in the sport.
Advisory Power Over Industry Practices. The council is authorized to recommend changes to both rules and laws governing horse racing and to prepare annual reports on racetrack operations, potentially shaping future regulatory or legislative approaches to the industry.
Formalizes and Expands Fan Input. By giving the council official access to racetracks and facilities and a formal advisory role to the commission, the bill institutionalizes fan input, which may lead to more systematic consideration of fan perspectives in the ongoing evolution of horse racing in New York.
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Who cares
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Create Racing Fan Council
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Print number 4414a
- Amend and recommit to racing and wagering
- Referred to racing and wagering
- Referred to racing and wagering
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Create Racing Fan Council
In Assembly Committee · Racing And Wagering · Sponsor John J. Bonacic
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4414--A
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 2, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. PRETLOW -- read once and referred to the Committee on Racing and Wagering -- recommitted to the Committee on Racing and Wagering in accordance with Assembly Rule 3, sec. 2 -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law, in relation to creating the racing fan advisory council
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law is amended by adding a new section 103-a to read as follows:
§ 103-a. Racing fan advisory council. There is hereby established a racing fan advisory council within the commission which will operate as follows:
1. The council shall be composed of five members. None of the members of the council shall be employees or officers of the commission or be paid employees, lobbyists, or officers of any licensed or franchised racetrack or off-track betting corporation or any nonprofit corporation which represents breeders or horsemen. Members shall be selected based on their long-term involvement and interest in, knowledge of, and devotion to the sport of horse racing as fans of the sport. Five persons shall be appointed by the executive director of the commission. One person shall be appointed upon the recommendation of the chairperson of the senate committee on racing, gaming and wagering, and one person shall be appointed by the chairperson of the assembly committee on racing and wagering.
2. The chairperson of the council shall be selected by the executive director of the commission. The deputy chairperson shall be selected by a majority vote of the council from among the persons appointed at the recommendation of the chairpersons of the designated legislative committees.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04133-03-8
A. 4414--A 2
3. The members of the council shall serve for a period of five years with all terms beginning September first, two thousand sixteen. In the event of a vacancy occurring during a term of appointment by reason of death, resignation, disqualification or otherwise, such vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointment.
4. The racing fan advisory council shall request and shall receive the assistance and cooperation of the commission in regard to receipt of information relating to horse racing and wagering in this state.
5. The racing fan advisory council shall:
(a) have as its mission the growth of the fan base related to the sport of horse racing;
(b) recommend procedures to ensure that the opinion of the fan is a central part of the regulation of horse racing;
(c) prepare an annual report, and any other reports it deems necessary, to the commission regarding the operation of the state's thoroughbred and harness racetracks and the state's off-track betting corporations;
(d) advise the commission on appropriate actions to encourage fan attendance and wagering at the state's thoroughbred and harness racetracks and the state's off-track betting corporations;
(e) be authorized by the commission to enter upon the racetracks and their facilities regulated or controlled by the board during race times, and during periods of horse workouts, and during hours when members of the media are permitted to be present at the facilities;
(f) recommend changes to the rules of the commission and to the laws affecting horse racing;
(g) perform such other duties as may be increased by order of the commission;
(h) engage New York state's racing fan population on how to make the sport more appealing;
(i) recommend to the commission further procedures to make steward and presiding judge actions that impact the betting public more transparent; and
(j) work with relevant component industries to better educate the casual fan as to significant industry topics.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, that the members of the racing fan advisory council as created by resolution of the New York Gaming Commission dated September 1, 2016, shall be the initial members of the racing fan advisory council as established by this act.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.