BILL NUMBER: SB 95 CHAPTERED 10/14/01 CHAPTER 935 FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE OCTOBER 14, 2001 APPROVED BY GOVERNOR OCTOBER 14, 2001 PASSED THE ASSEMBLY SEPTEMBER 5, 2001 PASSED THE SENATE MAY 7, 2001 AMENDED IN SENATE MAY 3, 2001 AMENDED IN SENATE MARCH 28, 2001 INTRODUCED BY Senator Vincent JANUARY 17, 2001 An act to add Article 5.6 (commencing with Section 19527) to Chapter 4 of Division 8 of the Business and Professions Code, relating to horse racing. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 95, Vincent. Horse racing: interstate licensing compact. Existing law provides that the California Horse Racing Board is responsible for the licensing of each racing association and all persons, other than the public at large, who participate in a horse race meeting with parimutuel wagering. Existing law imposes various requirements on licensees as specified, and generally requires that all licenses granted under the Horse Racing Law be in writing, and are subject to all rules, regulations, and conditions prescribed by the board. Existing law provides that all licenses granted under the Horse Racing Board are subject to suspension or revocation by the board pursuant to specified procedures and standards. This bill would state findings and declarations of the Legislature with respect to an interstate compact proposed by the Association of Racing Commissioners International concerning the delegation of California's licensing authority with respect to specified persons and occupations in the horse racing industry to a specified interstate committee, and would authorize the California Horse Racing Board to enter into that interstate compact for the purposes set forth in those findings, provided that California's participation in this compact does not result in the diminution of applicable existing standards established for licensure in California with regard to an applicant's criminal history and does not prevent the enforcement of any state law or regulation affecting any licensee. This bill would provide that California's entry into the compact will not relieve any individual or entity of its duty to obtain licenses or pay fees as required by state law. This bill would also authorize the board to designate an individual to represent California in conjunction with the administration of the compact. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Article 5.6 (commencing with Section 19527) is added to Chapter 4 of Division 8 of the Business and Professions Code, to read: Article 5.6. Interstate Compact on Horse Racing Occupational Licensing 19527. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following: (a) The Association of Racing Commissioners International has proposed a compact providing for the licensure of individuals involved in the horse racing industry. (b) The intent of this compact is to preclude the necessity of individual owners, trainers, backstretch employees, and other race track personnel from having to be separately licensed in each state in which they may conduct business. (c) This compact would provide for an individual to be licensed by the compact committee created therein, and thus be able to practice his or her profession in all states that are members of the compact. (d) The purpose of the compact is to: (1) Establish uniform requirements among the party states for the licensing of participants in live horse racing with parimutuel wagering, and ensure that all participants who are licensed pursuant to this compact meet a uniform minimum standard of honesty and integrity. (2) Facilitate the growth of the horse racing industry in each party state and nationwide by simplifying the licensing process for participants in the live racing industry, and reduce the duplicative and costly process of separate licensing by the applicable regulatory agency in each state. (3) Authorize the California Horse Racing Board to participate in this compact. (4) Provide for participation in this compact by officials of the party states, and permit those officials, through the compact committee established by the compact, to enter into contracts with governmental agencies and nongovernmental persons and entities to carry out the purposes of this compact. (5) Establish the compact committee created by this compact as an interstate governmental entity duly authorized to request and receive criminal history record information from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, other federal law enforcement agencies, and state and local law enforcement agencies. 19528. The California Horse Racing Board is hereby authorized to enter into the interstate compact identified in Section 19527 for the purposes described therein, provided that this state's participation in this compact does not result in the diminution of applicable existing standards established for licensure in California with regard to an applicant's criminal history and does not prevent the enforcement of any state law or regulation affecting any licensee. The California Horse Racing Board's entry into the interstate compact identified in Section 19527 shall not relieve any individual or entity of its duty to obtain any license or pay any fee otherwise required by this chapter. An individual designated by the California Horse Racing Board shall be responsible for representing California in conjunction with the administration of the compact.