14. During the 36th month after the commencement at any casino in Atlantic City of casino simulcasting from an out-of-State sending track, any operating racetrack, the Standardbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association, or the Thoroughbred Horseman’s Benevolent Association may file a petition with the New Jersey Racing Commission requesting that the formula contained in section 13g.(2) be revised. The petition shall be in writing and shall include a statement of reasons in support of a revision. If such a petition is filed, the racetracks, the Standardbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association, and the Thoroughbred Horseman’s Benevolent Association shall commence negotiations on the formula contained in section 13g.(2) of this act. If the parties agree on a formula, they shall make their recommendation to the Racing Commission no later than the end of the 39th month after the commencement of such simulcasting.

If the parties cannot agree on a formula by the end of that 39th month, the Racing Commission shall select a fact-finder, as hereinafter provided, to hear the matter. The fact-finder shall be knowledgeable about the racing industry but shall not be a current member or employee of the New Jersey Racing Commission, any operating racetrack, the Standardbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association, or the Thoroughbred Horseman’s Benevolent Association.

No later than the fifth day after the end of that 39th month, the Racing Commission shall submit to the operating racetracks, the Standardbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association, and the Thoroughbred Horseman’s Benevolent Association a list of at least five names of persons to serve as the fact-finder. Each of the recipients of the list shall rank in order of preference the names submitted and shall return the list within five days. No later than the fifth day after the return to the Racing Commission of all such lists, the Racing Commission shall, in its discretion, select the fact-finder after giving due consideration to the rankings provided by the racetracks and associations. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 15 of this act, the Racing Commission may pay from the Casino Simulcasting Special Fund the amount necessary to compensate the fact-finder. The fact-finder shall make a report and recommendation on a formula to the Racing Commission no later than the end of the 42nd month after the commencement of such simulcasting from an out-of-State sending track.

The Racing Commission shall review any recommendation and report made to it on a formula and may adopt any formula which, in its judgment, is equitable to the parties concerned and is in the best interest of racing in New Jersey. The commission shall promulgate, in accordance with the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.410 (C. 52:14B-1 et seq.), such rules and regulations as are necessary to effectuate a revised formula, which shall take effect upon the adoption by the commission of the rules and regulations containing the formula and shall supersede the formula in section 13g.(2).

If no petition is filed by the end of the 36th month after the commencement of such simulcasting, the formula in section 13g.(2) shall continue to be operative.

L.1992,c.19,s.14.