Governor Vetoes Bill Aimed at Allowing Jockeys and Staff to Self-Insure

Thursday, December 1, 2016 | 0

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday vetoed legislation that would have allowed the state Jockey Injury Compensation Fund to seek self-insurance plans or other coverage options to curtail rising workers’ compensation costs.

Bloodhorse.com reported that before the legislation was passed on June 17, the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association predicted comp costs would jump from 13% of payroll to 22% next year.

Association President Richard Violette Jr. told bloodhorse.com that Cuomo was wrong that Senate Bill S5441B would decrease protections for workers.

The bill would have granted the jockey fund the authority to self-insure with the approval of the state Gaming Commission and expanded the coverage to include licensed employees of licensed trainers.

Under current law, only jockeys, apprentice jockeys and exercise personnel are covered.

Violette said the current coverage has been cost prohibitive because the fund has been restricted to mostly guaranteed-cost insurance programs, in which insurers provide in advance the locked-in premium cost for a coming year, bloodhorse.com reported.

“That’s a very expensive plan, and it’s always lopsided in favor of the insurance companies so they’re not caught short,” Violette said.