HOUSE BILL ANALYSIS

                     HB 3045

Brief Description:  Clarifying the requirements for a class 1 racing license.

Sponsors:  Representatives Wood and Clements

Hearing:  February 2, 2000

                 Brief Summary of Bill

CAllows a class 1 horse racing association to count race days canceled for reasons beyond the control of the racing association in order to maintain its class 1 status.

BACKGROUND:

A class 1 racing association is a racing association, licensed by the Horse Racing Commission, that conducts live racing for at least 40 days during a 4-month period in any 12-month period.  The commission may increase the number of live racing days required to maintain an association's class 1 racing status.

Only class 1 racing associations may simulcast out-of-state horse races to an in-state facility.  When a racing association is conducting a live race meet, it may simulcast  a limited number of out-of-state races on live race days and on two non-live race days each week.  When no live race meet is being conducted at a race track, the racing association may simulcast racing for up to 12 hours a day, five days a week.  A class 1 racing association may also export the signal from its own live races to out-of-state locations.

A class 1 racing association generates revenue from parimutuel wagering on races conducted live at its own racing facility and from races run in other states and simulcasted to the live in-state race track facility.

SUMMARY OF BILL: 

If a live race is canceled due to acts of God, labor disruptions, a shortage of horses, or other circumstances beyond the control of the class 1 racing association, the canceled day counts toward the 40-day requirement for class 1 racing association status.

RULES AUTHORITY:  The bill does not contain provisions addressing the rule making powers of an agency.

FISCAL NOTE: Not requested.

EFFECTIVE DATE:  Ninety days after adjournment of a session in which bill is passed.