S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
4489
2011-2012 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
April 6, 2011
___________
Introduced by COMMITTEE ON RULES -- read twice and ordered printed, and
when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to amend the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law, in
relation to provision of health insurance and supplemental benefits to
retirees of the New York city off track betting corporation
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
1 Section 1. Legislative intent. The state of New York has an interest
2 in the welfare of its citizens, and the general welfare of its senior
3 citizens is a matter of great public concern to the state of New York.
4 On December 7, 2010, the New York City Off Track Betting Corporation, a
5 public benefits corporation created in 1973 pursuant to article VI of
6 the racing, pari-mutual wagering and breeding law ceased operations. The
7 legislature finds that, since its inception, New York City Off Track
8 Betting provided the state of New York with significant revenues to
9 support government operations. The legislature further finds that after
10 the governor of the state of New York issued an executive order to allow
11 the New York City Off Track Betting Corporation to file for bankruptcy
12 pursuant to Chapter 9 of the United States Bankruptcy Code, the unions
13 representing the employees of NYCOTB worked tirelessly to assist the
14 corporation in its restructuring efforts, including two collective
15 bargaining agreements wherein the employees made significant conces-
16 sions, including voluntary separation from the corporation, in order to
17 save the corporation and assist their fellow employees.
18 The legislature further finds that employees retired from the corpo-
19 ration, after having received the assurance that they and their depen-
20 dants would receive health insurance and supplemental benefit coverage
21 under their collective bargaining representative's welfare benefit
22 program. After the closure of New York City Off Track Betting, those
23 benefits ceased.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09353-01-1
S. 4489 2
1 The legislature further finds that cessation of these benefits to
2 public employees who have devoted their working lives to service of a
3 New York state public benefits corporation works a great injustice and a
4 severe hardship to the retirees and their dependants, thereby putting
5 their health and very lives in danger.
6 The legislature further finds that by honoring the commitment to
7 provide health insurance and supplemental benefits to retirees of New
8 York City Off Track Betting, the state reaffirms its commitment to amel-
9 iorate the deleterious impact which the closure of New York City Off
10 Track Betting has had upon the citizens of the state of New York.
11 S 2. Subdivision 4 of section 606 of the racing, pari-mutuel wagering
12 and breeding law, as amended by chapter 115 of the laws of 2008, is
13 amended to read as follows:
14 4. All [employees and officers] PRESENT AND FUTURE RETIREES of the
15 corporation in classes or positions whose incumbents, in equivalent
16 classes or positions of the city, are eligible, as of the effective date
17 hereof, to participate in, and receive benefits from any city authorized
18 health insurance or welfare benefit program, shall be eligible to
19 participate in, and receive benefits from any such health insurance or
20 welfare benefit program; provided, however, that the [corporation] STATE
21 shall reimburse the city or its designee for the actual cost of benefits
22 under this subdivision.
23 S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.