BILL NUMBER: AB 1226	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Hall

                        FEBRUARY 22, 2013

   An act to add Section 19502 to the Business and Professions Code,
relating to horse racing.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1226, as introduced, Hall. Horse racing: jockey riding fees.
   Existing law establishes the California Horse Racing Board, which
generally regulates horse racing in the state, including setting
default riding fees for jockeys that apply in the absence of a
contract or special agreement regarding riding fees to the contrary.
Existing law establishes the default riding fees for jockeys as a
certain percentage of the win purse, which is defined as the amount
paid the winning horse less the fees paid by the owner to enter the
horse in the race. Existing law also requires a jockey who finishes
2nd or 3rd in a race in which the purse is $9,999 or less to be
awarded a minimum amount, as specified.
   This bill would instead require a jockey whose horse finishes
first, 2nd, or 3rd, to be paid percentages of the gross purse, as
specified, except a jockey who finishes 2nd or 3rd in a race in which
the purse is $9,999 or less. The bill would define gross purse as
the published amount of the purse before any deductions. By imposing
requirements on the payments made to jockeys, the violation of which
would be a misdemeanor, the bill would impose a state-mandated local
program.
   The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local
agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.
   This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this
act for a specified reason.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: yes.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  The Legislature finds and declares the following:
   (a) California is the only state where the compensation a jockey
receives for winning a race is reduced by requiring the jockey to pay
a portion of the entry fee and other fees paid by an owner.
   (b) In order to attract and retain quality jockeys to race in
California and to ensure uniformity in horse racing industry
standards, it is necessary to enact legislation that would conform
California's compensation standards to those in the rest of the
United States.
  SEC. 2.  Section 19502 is added to the Business and Professions
Code, to read:
   19502.  (a) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of subdivision (b)
of Section 19501, all of the following shall apply:
   (1) A jockey whose horse finishes first in a race shall be paid at
least 10 percent of the first place winner's share of the gross
purse.
   (2) A jockey whose horse finishes second in a race shall be paid
at least 5 percent of the second place winner's share of the gross
purse.
   (3) A jockey whose horse finishes third in a race shall be paid at
least 5 percent of the third place winner's share of the gross
purse.
   (b) For purposes of this section, "gross purse" means the
published amount of the purse before any deductions.
  SEC. 3.  No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to
Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because
the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school
district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or
infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty
for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the
Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the
meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California
Constitution.