What's happening
This bill creates a special fund from horse racing revenues to support responsible retirement and rescue programs for racehorses in New York.
Why it matters
Diverts a portion of horse racing and gaming revenues. including video lottery commissions, racing purses, and breeding fund income—directly into a dedicated fund for racehorse retirement, ensuring ongoing financial support for aftercare.
Ties funding to industry growth. since the fund’s revenue sources are percentages of gaming and racing proceeds, the support for retired racehorses could increase if the racing/gaming industries expand.
Establishes oversight and eligibility standards. only non-profit organizations meeting specific criteria (such as economic sustainability and commitment to horse welfare) are eligible for funding, which aims to ensure responsible and effective use of resources.
Adds a horse registration fee. every registered racehorse will contribute to the fund, sharing responsibility for aftercare costs across the industry and potentially encouraging owners to consider long-term welfare at the outset.
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Who cares
- Likely support
Nonprofit horse retirement and rescue programs
Approved tax-exempt programs could receive funding to support retired thoroughbreds and standardbreds, including horses bred to race that never competed.
Racetracks, Resorts World Casino New York City and purse recipients
The bill would direct one-half of one percent of video lottery gaming commissions and one-half of one percent of purses at New York tracks to the retirement fund.
Horse breeders and breeding development funds
The bill would require a horse registration fee and direct portions of thoroughbred breeding fund revenue and agriculture and New York State horse breeding development fund fees toward retirement support.
Department of Agriculture and Markets
The commissioner would approve eligible programs, assess their financial stability and horse care commitments, and certify or approve fund payments.
Headline styles
Protect Retired Racehorses Fund
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
3 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to finance
- Referred to finance
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.
Fund Racehorse Retirement Programs
In Assembly Committee · Ways And Means · Sponsor Deborah Glick
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4287
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 6, 2019
Introduced by Sens. LAVALLE, ADDABBO, SEPULVEDA, TEDISCO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance
AN ACT to amend the state finance law, in relation to the creation of the responsible retirement of racehorses fund; to amend the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law, in relation to a horse registration fee; and to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to the responsible retirement of racehorses
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The state finance law is amended by adding a new section 95-j to read as follows:
§ 95-j. Responsible retirement of racehorses fund. 1. There is hereby established in the sole custody of the commissioner of taxation and finance a special fund to be known as the "responsible retirement of racehorses fund". Monies in the fund shall be kept separate from and not commingled with other funds held in the sole custody of the commissioner of taxation and finance.
2. (a) Such fund shall consist of all revenues received by the department of taxation and finance pursuant to paragraph (b) of this subdivision and all other money appropriated, credited, or transferred thereto from any other fund or source pursuant to law. Nothing contained herein shall prevent the state from receiving grants, gifts or bequests for the purposes of the fund as defined in this section and depositing them into the fund according to law.
(b) The sources of the "responsible retirement of racehorses fund" shall be as follows:
(i) one-half of one percent of the commissions from video lottery gaming revenue from New York's tracks and Resorts World Casino New York City and any video lottery gaming added after this section shall have become a law;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05045-01-9
S. 4287 2
(ii) one-half of one percent of all purses at the New York state tracks;
(iii) five percent of the New York state thoroughbred breeding and development fund annual revenue; and
(iv) ten percent of fees generated by the agriculture and New York state horse breeding development fund pursuant to section three hundred thirty of the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law.
3. The moneys in said account shall be retained by the fund and shall be payable from the fund by the commissioner of taxation and finance on vouchers certified or approved by the commissioner of agriculture and markets or his or her designee and only for the purposes set forth in this section.
4. The moneys in such fund shall be expended for the purpose of supporting responsible horse retirement of thoroughbreds and standardbreds in New York state. Eligible horse retirement and rescue programs are those approved by the commissioner of agriculture and markets.
§ 2. Section 330 of the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law is amended by adding a new subdivision 6 to read as follows:
6. The fund is directed to establish a horse registration fee for each horse registered pursuant to this chapter, with the proceeds of such fee to be credited to the fund.
§ 3. The agriculture and markets law is amended by adding a new section 381 to read as follows:
§ 381. Responsible retirement of racehorses. 1. The commissioner shall compile a list of approved horse retirement and rescue programs eligible to receive funding from the responsible retirement of racehorses fund established pursuant to section ninety-five-j of the state finance law. The eligibility of a rescue program shall be determined based upon the economic sustainability of the rescue, the rescue's long term stability, the rescue's demonstration of an ongoing commitment to the proper care of horses, and such other factors as the commissioner shall deem appropriate after consultation with the farm bureau, horse breeder associations and societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals and humane societies. All approved rescues must be non-profit organizations which are tax-exempt pursuant to the provisions of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
2. For purposes of this section the term racehorse shall include a horse whose racing career has concluded or a horse that was bred to race but has never competed in a race.
§ 4. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the state finance law, in relation to the creation of the responsible retirement of racehorses fund; to amend the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law, in relation to a horse registration fee; and to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to the responsible retirement of racehorses
Purpose
To amend the state finance law, in relation to the creation of the responsible retirement of racehorses fund; to amend the racing, pari-mu- tuel wagering and breeding law, in relation to a horse registration fee; and to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to the respon- sible retirement of racehorses.
Summary of provisions
Horses in the United States are not bred for human consumption but for sporting and recreational activities, this is what differentiates them from livestock such as pigs and cattle. Horses are routinely given drugs that are banned in animals that are bound for slaughter for food. One of these is Phenlybrutazone, which has been banned for human consumption by the FDA as it has been found to cause blood dyscrasias, including aplas- tic anemia, leucopenia, agranulicytosis and thrombocytopenia and can be fatal. Horses are not tested to ensure that they do not have these drugs in their systems when they are being slaughtered.
This bill seeks to amend the state finance law by adding a new section pertaining to the responsible retirement of racehorses. The fund will be expended for the purpose of supporting responsible horse retirement of thoroughbreds and standard-breeds by allotting the moneys to designated horse retirement and rescue programs. The eligibility of such programs will be determined by the Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets and based upon: the economic sustainability of the rescue; the rescue's long term stability, the rescue's demonstration of an ongoing commitment to the proper care of horses; and other such factors as the Commissioner deems appropriate. Such programs must be non-profit organizations which are tax exempt.
The bill stipulates these sources shall contribute to the fund: one half of one percent will come from commissions from video lottery gaming revenue from New York State's Tracks and Resorts World Casino and any video lottery gaming added after this section shall become a law; one half of one percent of all purses at the New York State tracks; five percent of the New York State thoroughbred breeding and development fund annual revenue; and ten percent of fees generated by the agriculture and New York State horse breeding development fund.
Defines a racehorse as any horse whose racing career has concluded or a horse that was bred to race but has never competed in a race.
Justification
Too many racehorses are bred each year simply because they are dispos- able once their racing career is done. For this reason, a fund must be established in order to responsibly retire racehorses as alternative to slaughter. This bill is based on the recommendations of the New York State Task Force on Retired Racehorses, which was created by the NYS Legislature as a means to protect and enforce the humane treatment of horses.
Legislative history
2017-18 S.2473A/A.4220A2015-16 S.4415/A.5342; 2013-2014 A.8997A
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.