7. a. For the purposes of this act and R.S.34:15-36, a horse racing industry employee shall be deemed to be in the employment of the New Jersey Horse Racing Injury Compensation Board and in the employment of all standardbred owners, thoroughbred owners, or thoroughbred trainers, as the case may be, who are licensed or are required to be licensed by the commission and whose horses are stabled at a permitted New Jersey racetrack at the time of any occurrence for which workers’ compensation benefits are payable pursuant to R.S.34:15-1 et seq. as supplemented by this act, and not solely in the employment of a particular owner or trainer. A horse racing industry employee shall not be deemed to be in the employment of the New Jersey Horse Racing Injury Compensation Board for any other purpose.

b. For the purposes of this act and R.S.34:15-36, the New Jersey Horse Racing Injury Compensation Board and all standardbred owners, thoroughbred owners, or thoroughbred trainers who are licensed or are required to be licensed by the commission and whose horses are stabled at a permitted New Jersey racetrack shall be deemed the employer of a horse racing industry employee at the time of any event for which workers’ compensation benefits are payable pursuant to R.S.34:15-1 et seq., as supplemented by this act. The New Jersey Racing Injury Compensation Board shall not be deemed the employer of a horse racing industry employee for any other purpose.

c. With respect to horse racing industry employees, the requirements of R.S.34:15-1 et seq. regarding the provision of workers’ compensation insurance by employers are satisfied in full by compliance with the requirements imposed upon standardbred owners, thoroughbred owners, and thoroughbred trainers by this act and any rules or regulations promulgated hereunder. If the responsible owner or trainer fails to comply with the requirements of this act or any rules or regulations promulgated hereunder and if the board is still required to pay the award on behalf of that owner or trainer who has been found to have violated this act or any rule or regulation promulgated hereunder, then the board is hereby authorized to impose a penalty on that owner or trainer in an amount not to exceed $10,000 per violation.

d. The provisions of this act shall not apply to employees of an owner or trainer who are not horse racing industry employees.

L.1995, c.329, s.7; amended 1998, c.11, s.3; 1999, c.378, s.4; 2008, c.11, s.5.