Sponsored by:
Assemblyman JOHN J. BURZICHELLI
District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem)
Assemblyman RONALD S. DANCER
District 12 (Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean)
Assemblyman JOHN F. AMODEO
District 2 (Atlantic)
SYNOPSIS
Authorizes New Jersey Racing Commission to grant special permit for horse racing on beach.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning a special horse racing permit 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 any other law to the contrary, the commission may grant a special permit, to a running race permit holder that leases a State-owned racetrack, for the holding or conducting of a special running race meeting on a beach in an area that extends landward from the mean high water line of the ocean to either the vegetation line or a man-made feature generally parallel to the ocean, such as a retaining structure, seawall, bulkhead, road, or boardwalk.
b. The commission may grant only one special permit, pursuant to subsection a. of this section, to an eligible running race permit holder. 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 running 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 running 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.
e. The commission shall promulgate rules and regulations providing for:
(1) the procedure for application for and approval of a special permit authorized by this section;
(2) any conditions to which a special permit holder or special running race meeting may be subject; and
(3) such other matters as the commission deems appropriate.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill authorizes the New Jersey Racing Commission to grant a special permit, to a running race permit holder that leases a State-owned racetrack, to hold or conduct a special running race meeting on the beach. Races authorized pursuant to this bill would occur between the mean high water line and either the vegetation line or a man-made feature generally parallel to the ocean.
The commission would be allowed to grant only one special permit to an eligible running race permit holder. The number of racing days under the special permit would not exceed two 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 that holds the special permit. 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 running 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 running race meeting would be distributed as if the special running race meeting is held at the location for which the special permit holder holds a running race permit.
The bill grants the commission the authority and discretion to promulgate rules and regulations that provide for the procedure for application for and approval of a special permit, the conditions to which a special permit holder or special running race meeting may be subject, and such other matters as the commission deems appropriate.