SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6022

As Passed Senate, March 13, 2001

Title:  An act relating to changing from five years to fifteen years the time that certain amounts are awarded to owners and breeders.

Brief Description:  Changing from five years to fifteen years the time that certain amounts are awarded to owners and breeders.

Sponsors:  Senators West, Prentice, Patterson, Roach, Rasmussen and Snyder.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Labor, Commerce & Financial Institutions:  2/26/01, 2/27/01 [DP].

Passed Senate:  3/13/01, 48-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR, COMMERCE & FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

Majority Report:  Do pass.

Signed by Senators Prentice, Chair; Gardner, Vice Chair; Benton, Fairley, Franklin, Hochstatter, Honeyford, Patterson, Rasmussen, West and Winsley.

Staff:  Catherine Mele (786‑7470)

Background:  Racing associations pay a bonus to the owners of Washington bred horses that finish in the top four positions of a live race meet.  The bonus represents 1 percent of the total dollars wagered at the race track (called the handle).  Fifty percent of the bonus is used for a period of five years for reimbursement of capital construction costs for building a new race track.

Racing associations pay awards to the breeders of Washington-bred horses that win races.  The monies that pay these awards are 1 percent of the exotic wagers such as the exacta and daily double.  Of the 1 percent, 75 percent is paid to the breeders and 25 percent pays for reimbursement of capital construction costs of building a new race track for five years.

Summary of Bill:  The period of time for the bonus for owners and the awards for breeders to reimburse for capital construction costs of a new track is extended to 15 years.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  Owners and breeders have been paid much money over the last four years at Emerald Downs.  However, Emerald Downs still has negative cash flow.  This bill addresses that negative cash flow by allowing owners and breeders to continue defraying the costs of building the track.  The trainers, owners, and employees support this legislation.  It is essential that this bill is passed.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Ron Crockett, Jim Halstrom, Northwest Racing (Emerald Downs) (pro); Larry Hillis, WHBPA (pro); Ralph Vacca, WTBA (pro).