A 822: Creates the responsible retirement of racehorses fund; establishes a horse registration fee; provides such funds be expended to support responsible retirement of racehorses in this state.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 822 2025-2026 Regular Sessions  IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled) January 8, 2025 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. GLICK, ROSENTHAL, COOK -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. SIMON -- read once and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means 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 regis- tration 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 Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. The state finance law is amended by adding a new section 2 95-l to read as follows: 3 § 95-l. Responsible retirement of racehorses fund. 1. There is hereby 4 established in the sole custody of the commissioner of taxation and 5 finance a special fund to be known as the "responsible retirement of 6 racehorses fund". Monies in the fund shall be kept separate from and not 7 commingled with other funds held in the sole custody of the commissioner 8 of taxation and finance. 9 2. (a) Such fund shall consist of all revenues received by the depart- 10 ment of taxation and finance pursuant to paragraph (b) of this subdivi- 11 sion and all other money appropriated, credited, or transferred thereto 12 from any other fund or source pursuant to law. Nothing contained herein 13 shall prevent the state from receiving grants, gifts or bequests for the 14 purposes of the fund as defined in this section and depositing them into 15 the fund according to law. 16 (b) The sources of the "responsible retirement of racehorses fund" 17 shall be as follows: 18 (i) one-half of one percent of the commissions from video lottery 19 gaming revenue from New York's tracks and Resorts World Casino New York EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD03057-01-5 
 A. 822 2 1 City and any video lottery gaming added after this section shall have 2 become a law; 3 (ii) one-half of one percent of all purses at the New York state 4 tracks; 5 (iii) five percent of the New York state thoroughbred breeding and 6 development fund annual revenue; and 7 (iv) ten percent of fees generated by the agriculture and New York 8 state horse breeding development fund pursuant to section three hundred 9 thirty of the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law. 10 3. The moneys in said account shall be retained by the fund and shall 11 be payable from the fund by the commissioner of taxation and finance on 12 vouchers certified or approved by the commissioner of agriculture and 13 markets or the commissioner of agriculture's designee and only for the 14 purposes set forth in this section. 15 4. The moneys in such fund shall be expended for the purpose of 16 supporting responsible horse retirement of thoroughbreds and standard- 17 breds in New York state. Eligible horse retirement and rescue programs 18 are those approved by the commissioner of agriculture and markets. 19 § 2. Section 330 of the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law 20 is amended by adding a new subdivision 6 to read as follows: 21 6. The fund is directed to establish a horse registration fee for each 22 horse registered pursuant to this chapter, with the proceeds of such fee 23 to be credited to the fund. 24 § 3. The agriculture and markets law is amended by adding a new 25 section 387 to read as follows: 26 § 387. Responsible retirement of racehorses. 1. The commissioner shall 27 compile a list of approved horse retirement and rescue programs eligible 28 to receive funding from the responsible retirement of racehorses fund 29 established pursuant to section ninety-five-l of the state finance law. 30 The eligibility of a rescue program shall be determined based upon the 31 economic sustainability of the rescue, the rescue's long term stability, 32 the rescue's demonstration of an ongoing commitment to the proper care 33 of horses, and such other factors as the commissioner shall deem appro- 34 priate after consultation with the farm bureau, horse breeder associ- 35 ations and societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals and humane 36 societies. All approved rescues must be non-profit organizations which 37 are tax-exempt pursuant to the provisions of section 501(c)(3) of the 38 Internal Revenue Code. 39 2. For purposes of this section the term racehorse shall include a 40 horse whose racing career has concluded or a horse that was bred to race 41 but has never competed in a race. 42 § 4. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after 43 it shall have become a law.