ASSEMBLY TOURISM, GAMING AND THE ARTS COMMITTEE

 

STATEMENT TO

 

ASSEMBLY, No. 5484

 

with committee amendments

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

DATED:  MAY 5, 2021

 

      The Assembly Tourism, Gaming and the Arts Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 5484.

     As amended, 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; all employees’ access privileges to the New Jersey Racing Commission Licensing, Mutuels, and Breeders 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 Breeders 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 with the assistance of the Department of Treasury.

 

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to revise the due date of fines imposed by the commission to be due by the date indicated in the ruling associated with the fine.