Bill Text: NJ S2021 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Provides $1 million in funding to NJ Racing Commission for five-year grant program for purpose of supporting certain organizations that care for retired horses.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-01-09 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee [S2021 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2024-S2021-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2024 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Senator VIN GOPAL
District 11 (Monmouth)
SYNOPSIS
Provides $1 million in funding to NJ Racing Commission for five-year grant program for purpose of supporting certain organizations that care for retired horses.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act establishing a five-year grant program for the care of retired Standardbred and Thoroughbred horses and making an appropriation.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Legislature finds and declares that:
The horse racing industry is economically important to this State, and the general welfare of the people of the State will be promoted by the advancement of horse racing and related projects and facilities in the State.
In 2019, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the horse racing industry conducted over 2,000 races and the total handle wagered in New Jersey amounted to approximately $1 billion.
The horse racing industry generates millions of dollars in tax revenue each year for the State, employs thousands of workers, and operates three historical racetracks.
The horses that run in these races are the backbone of the horse racing industry and the main reason hundreds of thousands of fans come out to support the racetracks each year.
While the horse racing industry and respective associations do support their retired horses through various programs, including charity racing days, more can be done.
The racehorses that drive these profits and benefits to the State deserve to be cared for in their retirement.
The care for retired horses is an important matter of public policy and, therefore, it is appropriate for the State to establish a grant program for the purpose of supporting certain organizations that care for retired horses.
2. a. The New Jersey Racing Commission shall establish a five-year grant program for the purpose of providing funds to assist with the care of retired horses. In establishing the five-year program, the commission shall develop an application by which accredited organizations may apply for grants pursuant to this section and develop the criteria the commission will utilize to award the grants.
b. (1) To be considered for the grants, an applicant shall be a nonprofit organization operating under 26 U.S.C. s.501(c)(3) of the federal Internal Revenue Code and shall be fully accredited by the Standardbred Transition Alliance, Standardbred Retirement Foundation, or Second Call Thoroughbred Adoption and Placement, dependent upon the breed primarily being rescued and re-homed by the accredited organization.
(2) The requirements for the evaluation of each applicant shall include, but need not be limited to:
a statement of need;
demonstration of financial stability and operational transparency;
evidence of qualified and experienced horsepersons attending to each horse's needs;
documentation of well-developed screening policies to ensure proper placement of horses;
evidence that the applicant maintains national standards of best practices for the industry, which may include the Care Guidelines for Equine Rescue and Retirement Facilities promulgated by the American Association of Equine Practitioners; and
written commitment to ensure funds provided through this program will only be used for the care of New Jersey-bred horses, or horses with a parent being a New Jersey-bred broodmare or New Jersey-bred stallion, or both.
c. The New Jersey Racing Commission shall provide notice of the availability of funding for this program, including notifying the Standardbred Transition Alliance, Standardbred Retirement Foundation, and Second Call Thoroughbred Adoption and Placement of the program. The commission shall make the application for the grants available on the commission's website, including the ability to submit the application and any necessary documentation electronically.
d. (1) The New Jersey Racing
Commission shall award $100,000 to a qualified organization dedicated to the
care of retired Standardbred horses and $100,000 to an accredited organization
dedicated to the care of retired Thoroughbred horses each year for the next
five years following the effective date of this act, P.L. ,
c. (pending before the Legislature as this bill). In a given year, the
commission shall not award more than $200,000 in grant funding from the program
established by this act.
(2) After considering the applicants, if the New Jersey Racing Commission determines that the applicants in a given year do not meet the requirements pursuant to this act, the available funding for that year may be distributed in equal shares as determined by the commission to promote the care of retired Standardbred horses and the care of Thoroughbred horses.
(3) Following the expiration of the five-year grant program established by this section, any unexpended funds shall be returned to the General Fund.
3. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the New Jersey Racing Commission the sum of $1,000,000 to effectuate the purposes of this act.
4. This act shall take
effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the NJ Racing Commission to establish a five-year grant program for the purpose of providing funds to assist with the care of retired horses.
Under the bill, to be considered for the grants, an applicant must be a nonprofit organization operating under 26 U.S.C. s.501(c)(3) of the federal Internal Revenue Code and be fully accredited by the Standardbred Transition Alliance (STA), Standardbred Retirement Foundation (SRF), or Second Call Thoroughbred Adoption and Placement (Second Call). The requirements for the evaluation of each applicant must include, but need not be limited to:
a statement of need;
a demonstration of financial stability and operational transparency;
evidence of qualified and experienced horsepersons attending to each horse's needs; and
documentation of well-developed screening policies to ensure proper placement of horses;
evidence that the applicant maintains national standards of best practices for the industry, which may include the Care Guidelines for Equine Rescue and Retirement Facilities promulgated by the American Association of Equine Practitioners; and
a written commitment to ensure funds provided through this program will only be used for the care of New Jersey-bred horses, or horses with a parent being a New Jersey-bred broodmare or New Jersey-bred stallion, or both.
The bill also requires the NJ Racing Commission to provide notice of the availability of funding for this program, including notifying the STA, SRF, and Second Call of the program, and make the application available on the commission's website.
The bill appropriates from the General Fund to the NJ Racing Commission the sum of $1,000,000 to establish and implement the grant program. The NJ Racing Commission would provide $100,000 to an accredited organization dedicated to the care of retired Standardbred horses and $100,000 to an accredited organization dedicated to the care of retired Thoroughbred horses each year for the next five years, which totals $1,000,000 over a five-year period.
Under the bill, after considering the applicants, if the New Jersey Racing Commission determines that the applicants in a given year do not meet the requirements under the bill, the available funding for that year may be distributed in equal shares as determined by the commission to promote the care of retired Standardbred horses and the care of Thoroughbred horses. Following the expiration of the five-year grant program established by the bill, any unexpended funds would be returned to the General Fund.
