Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS
Commerce & Labor Committee

SSB 5407

Brief Description:  Allowing more simulcast horse racing.

Sponsors:  By Senate Committee on Labor, Commerce & Financial Institutions (originally sponsored by Senators West, Prentice, Kohl‑Welles, Gardner and Rasmussen).

Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

$Removes the limitation on the number of simulcast races a class one racing association may be authorized to import during its live race meet.

Hearing Date:  3/27/01

Staff:  Sydney Forrester (786‑7120).

Background: 

Class one racing associations are those associations licensed by the Washington Horse Racing Commission to conduct at least 40 days of live racing in a 12-month period.  Class one associations may be authorized solely by the commission to import simulcasts of horse races from out-of-state racing facilities for the purpose of parimutuel wagering.  An association may be allowed to import: (1) unlimited simulcast races during its non-live race season; and (2) limited simulcast races during its live race meet. 

During both the live race meet and the non-live race season, a class one racing association may conduct parimutuel wagering up to five days each week.  The limits on the number of imported simulcast races during an association=s live meet are: (1) no more than one simulcast race per each live race day; and (2) no more than two simulcast races on two non-live race days per each week.

Summary of Bill: 

The limit on the number of simulcast races a class one racing association may be authorized to import during its live race meet is lifted.  A class one association may be authorized by the commission to import as many simulcasts as the commission allows under the live race regulations.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.