34:15-134 Insurance coverage; assessments.

6. a. The board shall secure workers' compensation insurance coverage for horse racing industry employees.

b. The board shall assess and collect sufficient funds to pay the costs of the insurance or self insurance coverage required by this act and by the workers' compensation laws of this State and to pay any additional costs necessary to carry out its other duties. The board shall ascertain the total funding necessary, establish the sums that are to be paid and establish by regulation the method of assessing and collecting these moneys. Assessments shall include, but shall not be limited to, deductions from gross overnight purses paid to owners, so long as such deductions do not exceed 3% of standardbred purses or 4% of thoroughbred purses, as applicable, and additional assessments may be collected as needed from standardbred owners, thoroughbred owners and thoroughbred trainers who are licensed or are required to be licensed by the commission. Track owners shall not be assessed for such costs.

c. Assessments for workers' compensation insurance coverage pursuant to this act shall be calculated and allocated separately for the thoroughbred and standardbred industries, based on their respective loss experience, and any assessments pursuant to subsection b. of this section shall be allocated accordingly. No public funds, other than the moneys collected pursuant to subsection b. of this section, shall be used for the purpose of self insurance or for paying the costs of workers' compensation insurance or workers' compensation benefits pursuant to this act.

L.1995, c.329, s.6; amended 1998, c.11, s.2; 1999, c.378, s.3; 2008, c.11, s.3.