N.Y. Rac. Pari-Mut. Wag. & Breed. Law § 1346

Current through 2024 NY Law Chapter 553
Section 1346 - Labor peace agreements for certain facilities
1. As used in this section:
(a) "Gaming facility" means any gaming facility licensed pursuant to this article or a video lottery gaming facility as may be authorized by paragraph three of subdivision (a) of section one thousand six hundred seventeen-a of the tax law, as amended by section nineteen of the chapter of the laws of two thousand thirteen that added this section licensed by the commission. A gaming facility shall not include any horse racing, bingo or charitable games of chance, the state lottery for education, or any gaming facility operating pursuant to the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, 25 U.S.C. 2710 et seq. A gaming facility shall include any hospitality operation at or related to the gaming facility.
(b) "Labor peace agreement" means an agreement enforceable under 29 U.S.C. 185(a) that, at a minimum, protects the state's proprietary interests by prohibiting labor organizations and members from engaging in picketing, work stoppages, boycotts, and any other economic interference with operation of the relevant gaming facility.
(c) "License" means any permit, license, franchise or allowance of the commission and shall include any franchisee or permittee.
(d) "Proprietary interest" means an economic and non-regulatory interest at risk in the financial success of the gaming facility that could be adversely affected by labor-management conflict, including but not limited to property interests, financial investments and revenue sharing.
2. The state legislature finds that the gaming industry constitutes a vital sector of New York's overall economy and that the state through its operation of lotteries and video lottery facilities and through its ownership of the properties utilized for horse racing by The New York Racing Association Inc. has a significant and ongoing economic and non-regulatory interest in the financial viability and competitiveness of the gaming industry. The state legislature further finds that the award or grant of a license by the commission to operate a gaming facility is a significant state action and that the commission must make prudent and efficient decisions to maximize the benefits and minimize the risks of gaming. The state legislature further recognizes that casino gaming industry integration can provide a vital economic engine to assist, nurture, develop, and promote regional economic development, the state tourism industry and the growth of jobs in the state. Additionally, the state legislature also finds revenues derived directly by the state from such gaming activity will be shared from gross gaming receipts, after payout of prizes but prior to deductions for operational expenses. Therefore, the state legislature finds that the state has a substantial and compelling proprietary interest in any license awarded for the operation of a gaming facility within the state.
3. The commission shall require any applicant for a gaming facility license who has not yet entered into a labor peace agreement to produce an affidavit stating it shall enter into a labor peace agreement with labor organizations that are actively engaged in representing or attempting to represent gaming or hospitality industry workers in the state. In order for the commission to issue a gaming facility license and for operations to commence, the applicant for a gaming facility license must produce documentation that it has entered into a labor peace agreement with each labor organization that is actively engaged in representing and attempting to represent gaming and hospitality industry workers in the state. The commission shall make the maintenance of such a labor peace agreement an ongoing material condition of licensure.

A license holder shall, as a condition of its license, ensure that operations at the gaming facility that are conducted by contractors, subcontractors, licensees, assignees, tenants or subtenants and that involve gaming or hospitality industry employees shall be done under a labor peace agreement containing the same provisions as specified above.

4. If otherwise applicable, capital projects undertaken by a gaming facility shall be subject to article eight of the labor law and shall be subject to the enforcement of prevailing wage requirements by the department of labor.
5. If otherwise applicable, capital projects undertaken by a gaming facility shall be subject to section one hundred thirty-five of the state finance law.
6. If otherwise applicable, any gaming facility entering into a contract for a gaming facility capital project shall be deemed to be a state agency, and such contract shall be deemed to be a state contract, for purposes of article fifteen-A of the executive law and section two hundred twenty-two of the labor law.

N.Y. Rac. Pari-Mut. Wag. and Breed. Law § 1346

Amended by New York Laws 2020, ch. 243,Sec. 158, eff. 10/7/2020.
Added by New York Laws 2013, ch. 174,Sec. 2, eff. 1/1/2014.