29. a. A person employed by a permit holder in the admissions department or parimutuel clerk department of a racetrack operated by a permit holder, or employed at the racetrack by a food and beverage vendor contracting with the permit holder to provide food and beverages at the racetrack, shall be given a one-time right of first refusal offer of employment, as each off-track wagering facility opens, for the then available positions of similar employment in that off-track wagering facility, including any similar employment with the off-track wagering licensee or with any vendor contracting with the licensee to provide food and beverages at the off-track wagering facility, or as each account wagering licensee implements account wagering, for the then available positions of similar employment with any account wagering licensee.

b. In the event that an off-track wagering facility is sited and begins operations at the location or in the proximity of a former racetrack, a person who, at the time of the closing of the former racetrack, worked as an employee of the permit holder in the admissions department or parimutuel clerk department of the former racetrack operated by the permit holder, or who, at the time of the closing of the former racetrack, worked at the racetrack as an employee of a food and beverage vendor contracting with the permit holder to provide food and beverages at the former racetrack, shall be given a one-time right of first refusal offer of similar employment at the off-track wagering facility. In the event that there are not a sufficient number of employment opportunities for each of the former employees who seek a position pursuant to the provisions of this subsection, then each such former employee, for a period of four years thereafter, shall have the right of first refusal set forth in the provisions of subsection a. of this section. Employment opportunities that remain after each former employee has been given an offer of similar employment shall be made available to other persons in accordance with the provisions of subsection a. of this section.

c. An employee of the permit holder or vendor contracting with the permit holder who is given preference for employment pursuant to subsections a. and b. of this section and accepts the employment shall not suffer, at the time that the change in employment occurs, any reduction in seniority, pay, or employer contribution to pension and health benefits, and shall receive a substantially equivalent level of benefits.

L.2001,c.199,s.29.