Bill Text: NY A09869 | 2011-2012 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Directs the state to reimburse the city of New York for the health care benefits of the retirees of the New York city off-track betting corporation; appropriates $7,000,000 therefor.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 41-1)
Status: (Vetoed) 2012-12-17 - tabled [A09869 Detail]
Download: New_York-2011-A09869-Introduced.html
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K ________________________________________________________________________ 9869 I N A S S E M B L Y April 19, 2012 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. ABBATE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Governmental Employees 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; and making an appropriation therefor 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. On December 4 7, 2010, the New York city off-track betting corporation, a public bene- 5 fit corporation created in 1973 pursuant to article VI of the racing, 6 pari-mutual wagering and breeding law ceased operations. The legislature 7 finds that, since its inception, off-track betting in the city of New 8 York provided the state with significant revenues to support government 9 operations. The legislature further finds that after the governor issued 10 an executive order to allow the New York city off-track betting corpo- 11 ration to file for bankruptcy pursuant to Chapter 9 of the United States 12 Bankruptcy Code, the unions representing the employees of such off-track 13 betting corporation worked tirelessly to assist the corporation in its 14 restructuring efforts, including two collective bargaining agreements 15 wherein the employees made significant concessions, including voluntary 16 separation from the corporation, in order to save the corporation and 17 assist their fellow employees. 18 The legislature further finds that employees retired from such 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 the New York city off-track betting corpo- 23 ration, those benefits ceased. 24 The legislature further finds that cessation of these benefits to 25 public employees who have devoted their working lives to service of a 26 state public benefit corporation works a great injustice and a severe EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD15234-02-2 A. 9869 2 1 hardship to the retirees and their dependants, thereby putting their 2 health and very lives in danger. 3 The legislature further finds that by honoring the commitment to 4 provide health insurance and supplemental benefits to retirees of the 5 New York city off-track betting corporation, the state reaffirms its 6 commitment to ameliorate the deleterious impact which the closure of 7 such corporation has had upon the citizens of the state. 8 S 2. Subdivision 4 of section 606 of the racing, pari-mutuel wagering 9 and breeding law, as amended by chapter 115 of the laws of 2008, is 10 amended to read as follows: 11 4. All [employees and officers] PRESENT AND FUTURE RETIREES of the 12 corporation in classes or positions whose incumbents, in equivalent 13 classes or positions of the city, are eligible, as of the effective date 14 hereof, to participate in, and receive benefits from any city authorized 15 health insurance or welfare benefit program, shall be eligible to 16 participate in, and receive benefits from any such health insurance or 17 welfare benefit program; provided, however, that the [corporation] STATE 18 shall reimburse the city or its designee for the actual cost of benefits 19 under this subdivision. 20 S 3. The sum of seven million dollars ($7,000,000), or so much thereof 21 as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated to the department of civil 22 service out of any moneys in the state treasury in the general fund to 23 the credit of the aid to localities account, not otherwise appropriated, 24 and made immediately available, for the purpose of carrying out the 25 provisions of this act. Such moneys shall be payable on the audit and 26 warrant of the comptroller on vouchers certified or approved by the 27 president of the civil service commission in the manner prescribed by 28 law. 29 S 4. This act shall take effect immediately.