Bill Text: NJ A1697 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Authorizes New Jersey Racing Commission to grant special horse racing permit for steeplechase races; allows wagering on such races.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 9-4)
Status: (Passed) 2016-09-14 - Approved P.L.2016, c.54. [A1697 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2016-A1697-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
217th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2016 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman RONALD S. DANCER
District 12 (Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean)
Assemblyman JOHN J. BURZICHELLI
District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem)
Assemblyman JON M. BRAMNICK
District 21 (Morris, Somerset and Union)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman Peterson, Assemblywoman Handlin and Assemblyman Clifton
SYNOPSIS
Authorizes New Jersey Racing Commission to grant special horse racing permit for steeplechase races; allows wagering on such races.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act authorizing issuance of a special horse racing permit for steeplechase races and allowing wagering thereon, and supplementing chapter 5 of Title 5 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 1 of P.L.1949, c.26 (C.5:5-39.1) or any other law to the contrary, the commission may grant a special permit, to a permit holder in good standing authorized to conduct running races in this State, for the holding or conducting of a special steeplechase race meeting at a location other than a racetrack, provided that the special steeplechase race meeting is conducted in conjunction with an organization that has experience conducting steeplechase races pursuant to section 54 of P.L.1940, c.17 (C.5:5-74), and provided that the special steeplechase race meeting is recognized by the National Steeplechase and Hunt Association. A special permit granted pursuant to this subsection shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the commission.
b. The commission may grant only one special permit pursuant to subsection a. of this section per calendar year, which shall be valid only for the calendar year in which it is issued. Any running race permit holder in good standing may apply for the special permit. The number of racing days authorized pursuant to the special permit shall not exceed two days in a calendar year. Any racing day that is run pursuant to the special permit shall count toward the total number of racing days allotted to the running race permit holder.
c. A permit holder that is granted a special permit pursuant to this section shall keep and maintain separate books and records for the special steeplechase race meeting to the same extent as is required of a permit holder and shall file such report and audits as may otherwise be required on or before such date as the commission may designate.
d. Sums in the parimutuel pools shall be distributed as if the special steeplechase race meeting is held at the location for which the special permit holder holds a running race permit, as provided in chapter 5 of Title 5 of the Revised Statutes, except that the special permit holder may enter into a contractual agreement with the organization with which the permit holder is conducting the special steeplechase race meeting providing for the distribution of money that would otherwise statutorily be distributed to the permit holder.
2. This act shall take
effect immediately.
STATEMENT
For decades, the State of New Jersey has been home to the Far Hills race meeting, a celebrated series of steeplechase horse races held in Far Hills in Somerset County. Though the Far Hills race meeting has traditionally been very popular, wagering is not currently permitted on the races. This bill would allow a running race permit holder in good standing with the State to coordinate with the Far Hills Race Meeting Association in order to allow wagering on the races, which should benefit both the horse racing industry and the viewing public.
This bill authorizes the New Jersey Racing Commission to grant a special permit, to a permit holder in good standing authorized to conduct running races in this State, for the holding or conducting of a special steeplechase race meeting at a location other than an official racetrack. The permit holder must conduct the special race meeting in conjunction with an organization that has experience conducting steeplechase races pursuant to N.J.S.A.5:5-74, and the race meeting must be recognized by the National Steeplechase and Hunt Association. A special permit granted pursuant to this bill would be subject to the jurisdiction of the commission.
The commission would be allowed to grant only one special permit per calendar year, which would be valid only for the calendar year in which it is issued. Any running race permit holder in good standing may apply for the special permit. The number of racing days authorized pursuant to the special permit would not be permitted to exceed two days in a calendar year. Any racing day that is run pursuant to the special permit would count toward the total number of racing days allotted to the running race permit holder.
A permit holder that is granted a special permit under the bill would be required to maintain separate books and records, and file reports and audits, for the special steeplechase race meeting to the same extent a permit holder is required to do so by law. Sums in the parimutuel pools that result from wagering on races at the special steeplechase race meeting would be distributed as if the special steeplechase race meeting is held at the location for which the special permit holder holds a running race permit. However, the special permit holder would be able to enter into a contractual agreement with the organization with which the permit holder is conducting the special race meeting providing for the distribution of money that would otherwise statutorily be distributed to the permit holder.
