ASSEMBLY TOURISM, GAMING AND THE ARTS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 327

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MARCH 7, 2022

      The Assembly Tourism, Gaming and the Arts Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 327.

     This bill is in response to the comments and recommendations contained in the State Auditor’s Report regarding a July 1, 2016 to March 31, 2020 review of selected programs of the New Jersey Racing Commission in the Department of Law and Public Safety.

     The bill will establish procedures to enforce internal controls of the New Jersey Racing Commission.  The bill will require an annual audit to ensure those procedures are followed.  The bill requires the enforcement of internal control monitoring procedures to ensure that all licensees of the commission have their fingerprints taken and that all fingerprints are renewed in a timely manner and in accordance with all applicable State and federal laws; the racing licenses of all individuals who fail to update their fingerprints prior to expiration are suspended until their fingerprints are updated; all employees’ access privileges to the New Jersey Racing Commission Licensing, Mutuels, and Bleeders system are authorized and are commensurate with their job duties and classification; all equine fatality reports are complete and submitted in a timely manner to the commission during the fiscal year; all revenues are collected in a timely manner, properly recorded in the State accounting system, and accounted for in the New Jersey Racing Commission Licensing, Mutuels, and Bleeders system; all fines and fees imposed on licensees are collected and licensees who do not pay their fines are suspended; and all interfund transactions between the New Jersey Racing Industry Special Fund and the General Fund are processed until their fingerprints are updated with the assistance of the Department of Treasury.

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2022-2023 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.