Brief Description: Affording certain information held by the horse racing commission the same protection from public inspection as other regulated entities.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research & Development (originally sponsored by Senators Rasmussen, Hewitt and Kohl-Welles).

Senate Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research & Development
House Committee on State Government Operations & Accountability

Background: Advanced deposit wagering allows participants to pay for parimutuel wagers by telephone or other electronic means. Under an advanced deposit wagering system an entity contracts with the racing association to provide communication services, and operates as a third party intermediary between the person placing the parimutuel wager and the organization conducting the horse racing meet.

Chapter 274, Laws of 2004 (ESSB 6481) authorized the Horse Racing Commission to adopt rules relating to advance deposit wagering, including the licensing of one or more third party intermediaries. The licensing process requires applicants to be licensed in this capacity to provide certain information, which can include information relating to terms and conditions negotiated between the applicant and organization conducting horse racing meets.

The Public Disclosure Act, Chapter 42.17 RCW, requires that most information held by a public agency be open to public inspection. There are 58 narrowly construed types of records that are exempt from this requirement.

Summary: Financial information relating to an application to be licensed by the Horse Racing Commission as a third-party advanced deposit wager service provider is exempt from public inspection, in the same manner as is information submitted with an application for a liquor license, gambling license, or lottery retail license.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate      46   0
House      90   1   (House amended)
Senate      40   1   (Senate concurred)

Effective: May 9, 2005