EMERGENCY RULES
Effective Date of Rule: Immediately.
Purpose: To amend WAC 260-36-220 and 260-36-230 to extend the period of short duration license at Class A and B racing associations from seven to thirty day[s] in an attempt to attract more trainers and horses to run in Washington. This action is being taken at the specific request of the Washington Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, the industry group representing those this amendment would affect, and therefore is exempt from the limitations of EO 10-06.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 260-36-220 and 260-36-230.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 67.16.020.
Under RCW 34.05.350 the agency for good cause finds that immediate adoption, amendment, or repeal of a rule is necessary for the preservation of the public health, safety, or general welfare, and that observing the time requirements of notice and opportunity to comment upon adoption of a permanent rule would be contrary to the public interest.
Reasons for this Finding: The Washington horse racing commission is required by law (RCW 67.16.300) to collect industrial insurance premiums required by RCW 51.16.210. These premiums are tied to the participants' license and collected at the time of licensing. This has left many out-of-state trainers with the perception that Washington's "license fees" are some of the highest in the nation. While this is not the case, the perception has kept trainers from running in Washington, jeopardizing the overall welfare of Washington equine industry. In response immediate action is needed to change this perception and encourage horsemen to bring their horses to Washington. Current economic conditions coupled with fewer horses participating in live horse racing make it critical that immediate action is taken to preserve the general welfare of the state's equine industry.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 2, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 2, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: April 19, 2011.
Douglas L. Moore
Deputy Secretary
OTS-3946.2
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 09-23-063, filed 11/13/09,
effective 12/14/09)
WAC 260-36-220
Industrial insurance premiums -- Additional
premiums for exercise riders.
(1) At the time of licensing,
and as provided in this section and WAC 260-36-230, a trainer
must pay the annual industrial insurance premiums for exercise
riders established by labor and industries, unless exempted
under WAC 260-36-240. Coverage will only apply to licensed
exercise riders exercising horses for a licensed trainer and
for trainers, also licensed as exercise riders, exercising any
of the horses in their care. It is the trainer's
responsibility to ensure all exercise riders in their employ
are properly licensed by the commission.
(2)(a) A trainer at a Class A or B track must pay all required annual industrial insurance premiums for exercise riders equal to the maximum number of horses in training on any given day during the calendar year that the trainer has both on and off the grounds of a racing association.
(b) For horses on the grounds of a Class A or B track, a trainer must count stalls that are occupied by horses (including horses that are sick or injured) under the trainer's care. Premiums will be calculated on the total number of stalls allotted by the racing association, even if the horse is stalled on the grounds for a day or less. (For example, if a trainer comes to Washington to enter or nominate his/her horse in one race and the horse is only on the grounds for one day, the trainer is required to pay the full industrial insurance premium for that one horse, except as provided in WAC 260-36-230.) Stalls assigned to and occupied by pony horses will not be counted.
(c) For horses off the grounds, a trainer must count all horses in training that are subject to being ridden by licensed exercise riders, if the exercise riders are to be covered by the Washington labor and industries insurance under the horse industry account.
(d) If any trainer increases the number of horses in training or racing, either on or off the grounds during the calendar year, the trainer is responsible to pay the additional premiums as provided in this section.
(e) If any trainer decreases the number of horses in training or racing, either on or off the grounds during the calendar year, the trainer is not entitled to any refund as premiums are annual fees that are not prorated and are assessed on the maximum number of horses in training on any day during the calendar year.
(f) It is the trainer's responsibility to maintain records and accurately report the number of horses in training (both on and off the grounds) for purposes of paying industrial insurance premiums required by this section. Any time during the calendar year if a trainer increases the number of horses in training or racing beyond the premium previously assessed the trainer is responsible for immediately reporting and paying the additional premium owed.
(3)(a) A trainer at a Class C track must pay industrial insurance premiums for exercise riders equal to the maximum number of different horses the trainer starts at the Class C tracks during the calendar year, or the maximum number of horses the trainer has in training, whichever is greater. All trainers at a Class C track are required to pay industrial insurance for at least one horse.
(b) If during the calendar year a horse is started by more than one trainer that horse, for the purpose of calculating the annual industrial insurance premium a trainer is required to pay, will count as a different horse for each trainer.
(c) It is the trainer's responsibility to maintain records and accurately report the number of different horses started or in training for the purpose of paying industrial insurance premiums required in this section. Any time during the calendar year if a trainer increases the number of different horses started or the total number of horses in training beyond the premium previously assessed the trainer is responsible for immediately reporting and paying the additional premium owed.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 67.16.020 and 67.16.040. 09-23-063, § 260-36-220, filed 11/13/09, effective 12/14/09; 08-05-087, § 260-36-220, filed 2/15/08, effective 3/17/08. Statutory Authority: [RCW 67.16.020.] 07-01-051, § 260-36-220, filed 12/14/06, effective 1/14/07.]
(a) Trainers who ship in to Class A or B race meets may purchase short duration industrial insurance coverage for seven consecutive calendar days. The trainer must pay twenty percent of the trainer base premium, and twenty percent for each groom slot or assistant trainer slot obtained (all rounded to the next whole dollar). The base premium used for this calculation will be the industrial insurance premiums established for Class A or B race meets. A trainer may only purchase Class A or B race meet short duration coverage for three seven-day periods per calendar year.)) Trainers entering horses to run in Washington races will be allowed to obtain short duration industrial insurance coverage that will reduce the amount of industrial insurance premium a trainer has to pay to provide employees financial relief from injury. The following conditions will apply for short duration coverage:
(a) Trainers who ship in to Class A or B race meets may purchase short duration industrial insurance coverage for thirty consecutive calendar days. The cost of short duration coverage will be no more than:
(i) One-third of the trainer base premium;
(ii) One-third for each groom slot or assistant trainer slot obtained; and
(iii) One-third of the premiums for exercise riders for all horses on the grounds (all rounded to the next whole dollar). The premiums used for these calculations will be the industrial insurance premiums established for Class A or B race meets. Trainers may only purchase Class A or B race meet short duration coverage for two, thirty-day periods per calendar year. The trainer must pay the industrial insurance premium at the time of licensing. If a trainer extends coverage past the initial thirty-day period, the trainer must pay:
(A) One-third of the trainer base premium;
(B) One-third of all groom/assistant trainer slots; and
(C) One-third of the premium for exercise riders based on the maximum number of horses on the grounds prior to a consecutive extension of coverage. Prior to the end of each thirty-day coverage period a trainer must pay one-third of the premium for any additional groom/assistant trainer slots and one-third of the premium for exercise riders for any additional horses brought on the grounds.
(b) Trainers who ship in to Class C race meets may
purchase short duration industrial insurance coverage for
seven consecutive calendar days. The ((trainer must pay))
cost of such short duration coverage will be twenty percent of
the trainer base premium, and twenty percent of each groom
slot or assistant trainer slot obtained (all rounded to the
next whole dollar). The base premium used for this
calculation will be the industrial insurance premiums
established for Class C race meets. A trainer may only
purchase Class C race meet short duration coverage for three
seven-day periods per calendar year. Class C race meet short
duration industrial insurance coverage is not transferable to
a Class A or B race meet.
(2) Before short duration coverage will be allowed, a trainer must obtain a license and pay all applicable license and fingerprint fees required in WAC 260-36-085. The trainer is also required to ensure that each groom, assistant trainer, pony rider, and exercise rider hired by the trainer has a proper license. A trainer may only employ persons on the grounds of the racing association who are properly licensed by the commission.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 67.16.020 and 67.16.040. 09-23-063, § 260-36-230, filed 11/13/09, effective 12/14/09; 08-05-087, § 260-36-230, filed 2/15/08, effective 3/17/08. Statutory Authority: [RCW 67.16.020.] 07-01-051, § 260-36-230, filed 12/14/06, effective 1/14/07.]