Bill Text: CA AB136 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Horse racing: imported harness or quarter horse races.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)

Status: (Passed) 2009-10-11 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 221, Statutes of 2009. [AB136 Detail]

Download: California-2009-AB136-Amended.html

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BILL NUMBER: AB 136	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 29, 2009
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 23, 2009

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Silva

                        JANUARY 20, 2009

   An act to amend Section 19596.1 of  , and to add Section
19532.2 to,  the Business and Professions Code, relating to
horse racing.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 136, as amended, Silva. Horse racing:  harness racing:
 imported harness or quarter horse races. 
   Existing law provides that the California Horse Racing Board shall
have the authority to allocate racing weeks and provides that the
maximum number of racing weeks that may be allocated for harness
racing, other than at fairs, in the northern zone is 25 weeks per
year. Existing law also provides that the maximum number of racing
weeks that may be allocated to a fair shall be 4 weeks each year,
except as provided, including that the board may allocate additional
weeks of harness racing to the California Exposition and State Fair
in Sacramento or its lessee, to be raced at that fair. 

   This bill would authorize the board to allocate 52 weeks of
harness racing in the northern zone, at one or more racetracks or
fairs. The bill would provide that any provision of the Horse Racing
Law that pertains to harness racing at the California Exposition and
State Fair in Sacramento shall also apply to harness racing which is
conducted at any other racing venue in the northern zone. 
   Under existing law, the  board   California
Horse Racing Board  is authorized to permit a harness or quarter
horse association conducting a race meeting to accept wagers on the
results of out-of-state or out-of-country harness or quarter horse
races, and certain other designated harness or quarter horse races,
if specified conditions are met. One of these conditions is that, if
only one breed is being raced on a given day, the racing association
conducting live racing may import those races that would otherwise be
simulcast by the association which is not racing, subject to the
limitation that the total number of harness or quarter horse races
imported in a calendar year does not exceed the number of night races
imported in 1998 after 5:30 p.m.
   This bill would delete that limitation regarding the total number
of harness or quarter horse races imported in a calendar year.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
   
  SECTION 1.    Section 19532.2 is added to the
Business and Professions Code, to read:
   19532.2.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 52 weeks of
harness racing may be allocated by the board, and conducted, in the
northern zone, at one or more racetracks or fairs. Any provision of
this chapter that pertains to harness racing at the California
Exposition and State Fair in Sacramento shall also apply to harness
racing which is conducted at any other racing venue in the northern
zone. 
   SEC. 2.   SECTION 1.   Section 19596.1
of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:
   19596.1.  (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the
board may authorize a harness or quarter horse association conducting
a race meeting to accept wagers on the results of out-of-state or
out-of-country harness or quarter horse races and, with the board's
approval and with the concurrence of the horsemen's organization
contracting with the association, other designated harness or quarter
horse races during the period it is conducting the racing meeting,
if all of the following conditions are met:
   (1) The authorization complies with federal laws, including, but
not limited to, Chapter 57 (commencing with Section 3001) of Title 15
of the United States Code.
   (2) Wagering is offered only within the racing inclosure and only
within 36 hours of the running of the out-of-state feature race.
   (3) The association conducts at least seven live races, and
imports not more than eight races on those days during a racing
meeting when live races are being run, except as provided in
subdivision (b).
   (4) If only one breed of horse specified in this section is being
raced on a given day, then the association conducting the live racing
may import those races which would otherwise be simulcast by the
association which is not racing. After the usual deductions,
including the portion for the racing association, the portion
remaining for purses from these races shall be distributed equally
for purses for harness horsemen and quarter horse horsemen.
   (5) No quarter horse or harness racing association shall accept
wagers on out-of-state or out-of-country quarter horse or harness
races commencing before 5:30 p.m., Pacific standard time, without the
consent of any thoroughbred association or fair that is then
conducting a live racing meeting in this state.
   (b) An association that is authorized to import races pursuant to
subdivision (a) may, at its sole discretion, import fewer than the
maximum number of harness or quarter horse races authorized in
paragraph (3) of subdivision (a). For up to two races per night, for
each race that is not imported under the maximum authorized by
paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) on a particular night of racing, the
association may add a race to the number of races allowable under
the maximum authorization on another night of racing. However, no
more than two races may be added under this subdivision to the number
allowable on a single night, and the total number of imported races
over a calendar year may not exceed the total number of imported
races authorized pursuant to paragraphs (3) and (4) of subdivision
(a).