BILL ANALYSIS
SB 1486
Page 1
SENATE THIRD READING
SB 1486 (Governmental Organization Committee)
As Introduced March 8, 2010
Majority vote
SENATE VOTE :33-0
GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION 20-0 APPROPRIATIONS 12-0
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|Ayes:|Coto, Anderson, |Ayes:|Fuentes, Bradford, |
| |Blakeslee, Chesbro, Cook, | |Charles Calderon, Coto, |
| |De Leon, Evans, Hall, | |Davis, De Leon, Gatto, |
| |Hernandez, Hill, | |Hall, Skinner, Solorio, |
| |Jeffries, Lieu, Mendoza, | |Torlakson, Torrico |
| |Nestande, | | |
| |V. Manuel Perez, | | |
| |Portantino, Silva, | | |
| |Torres, Torrico, Tran | | |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Clarifies the policy purpose of Horse Racing Law,
reflecting the changes made to the law pursuant to the enactment
of SB 16 X2 (Ashburn), Chapter 12, Statutes of 2009-10 Second
Extraordinary Session. SB 1486 deletes any reference to the
emergency regulations to establish standards governing the
employee housing provided to backstretch personnel at licensed
racetracks for which compliance was mandated by January 1, 2004.
SB 1486 deletes obsolete findings of the Legislature with
regards to professional jockey fees.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Article IV, Section 19(b) of the Constitution of the State of
California provides that the Legislature may provide for the
regulation of horse races and horse race meetings and wagering
on the results.
2)Provides that the intent of California's Horse Racing Law is
to allow pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing while:
a) Assuring protection of the public;
b) Encouraging agriculture and the breeding of horses in
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this state;
c) Supporting the network of California fairs;
d) Providing for maximum expansion of horse racing
opportunities in the public interest; and,
e) Providing uniformity of regulation for each type of
horse racing.
1)Provides that the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) shall
adopt emergency regulations to establish standards governing
the employee housing provided to backstretch personnel at
licensed racetracks, as specified.
2)Provides various findings of the Legislature in regards to
professional jockey fees, including that the riding fee should
be increased at least as much on a percentage basis as the
state minimum wage, so that the average full-time jockey can
earn an income sufficient to provide for the basic necessities
of life. Existing law provides that minimum jockey riding
fees for losing mounts and minimum amounts awarded to 2nd and
3rd place finishers be increased by a specified amount as of
January 1, 2008 and by additional amounts on later dates, as
specified.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee analysis, there are no significant costs associated
with this legislation.
COMMENTS : In 1933, California voters passed a constitutional
amendment authorizing pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing.
The commitment to use a percentage of the wagers to establish a
continuous funding source for the fairs, while at the same time,
relieving the state's General Fund of the funding burden
became socially and politically palatable in 1933 as the country
began to pull itself up by the bootstraps from the Great
Depression.
For more than 75 years, this relationship existed between horse
racing and the fairs until the enactment of SB 16xx. SB 16xx
appropriates $32 million a year from the General Fund in support
of the fairs and relieves the horse racing industry of its
obligation to fund the fairs from license fees assessed on horse
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racing wagers. As such, this bill modifies the stated policy
purpose of Horse Racing Law to reflect the changes brought about
by SB 16xx.
The bill cleans up two other provisions of law by eliminating
obsolete provisions authorizing the California Horse Racing
Board (CHRB) to enact emergency regulations with regards to
housing provided to backstretch personnel at licensed
racetracks. Finally, the bill eliminates references to "minimum
jockey riding fees for losing mounts".
Prior/related legislation : SB 16 X2, among other things
provides that beginning on July 1, 2009, and annually
thereafter, $32 million shall be appropriated from the state's
General Fund and paid into the Fair and Exposition Fund for the
financial support of the network of California fairs.
AB 649 (Ma), Chapter 43, Statutes of 2007, establishes in state
law a pay scale for the minimum jockey riding fees by the CHRB.
Analysis Prepared by : Eric Johnson / G. O. / (916) 319-2531
FN: 0005128