FINAL BILL REPORT

HB 2320

C 160 L 16

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Providing that the horse racing commission operating account is a nonappropriated account.

Sponsors: Representatives Stokesbary, Hurst, Peterson, Caldier, Schmick, Stambaugh and Wilcox.

House Committee on Commerce & Gaming

House Committee on Appropriations

Senate Committee on Commerce & Labor

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

Background:

Washington Horse Racing Commission.

The Washington Horse Racing Commission (Commission) is responsible for licensing, regulating, and supervising all horse race meets held in Washington where the parimutuel system of betting is used. The Commission is also responsible for inspecting each race course in the state at least once a year.

Betting or wagering on a horse race is lawful in Washington only if it is by the parimutuel method. Licensees operating race meets must withhold and pay to the Commission daily, for each authorized day of parimutuel wagering, a parimutuel tax that is a percentage of all the licensees' daily gross receipts from the licensees' in-state parimutuel machines. Those receipts must be deposited in the Washington Horse Racing Commission Operating Account.

Washington Horse Racing Commission Operating Account.

Within the custody of the State Treasurer is the Washington Horse Racing Commission Operating Account (Account). In addition to the percentage of licensees' daily gross receipts from licensees' parimutuel wagering machines that must be deposited into the Account, the Commission may receive and, if so, must deposit into the Account, gifts, grants, and endowments from public or private sources.

Gifts, grants, and endowments must be expended according to the terms of the gift, grant, or endowment. Otherwise, moneys in the Account must be used for the Commission's operating expenses. If there are sufficient funds in the Account to cover the Commission's operating expenses, the Commission may spend up to $300,000 per fiscal year for the purposes of developing the equine industry, maintaining and upgrading racing facilities, and assisting equine health research.

Moneys in the Account may be spent only after appropriation.

Summary:

Moneys in the Account may be spent without an appropriation. Only the Commission or the Commission's designee may authorize expenditures from the Account. The Account is subject to allotment procedures.

Votes on Final Passage: