SB 777, Hernandez. Horse racing: workers’ compensation.
Until January 1, 2014, the provisions of the Horse Racing Law required a thoroughbred racing association and fair that conducts a racing meeting to deduct a percentage of the total amount handled in exotic parimutuel pools of thoroughbred racing, to be distributed to a specified organization for the purpose of defraying the costs of workers’ compensation insurance in connection with thoroughbred horse racing. Until January 1, 2014, provisions of the Horse Racing Law authorized similar deductions from the total amount handled for races for quarter horses and other breeds, and for harness races, to be distributed to specified organizations for defraying workers’ compensation insurance costs for trainers and owners in connection with those races.
This bill would reestablish those provisions requiring the deduction specified above to be made by a thoroughbred racing association, and would reestablish those provisions authorizing the deductions to be made for races for quarter horses and other breeds, and for harness races. Because a violation of the Horse Racing Law is generally a misdemeanor, the bill would create new crimes, thereby imposing 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.
This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
Section 19605.75 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:
(a) The Legislature finds and declares that the existence of high caliber thoroughbred racing in California is important to this state’s agricultural economy. The California horse racing industry is being threatened by the escalating costs of doing business in California, including, but not limited to, workers’ compensation insurance costs, in that these costs are not only causing thoroughbred horses and trainers to leave this state, but are also discouraging owners and trainers from bringing horses into this state to compete. It is the intent of the Legislature to provide some relief from these escalating costs through the redistribution of the parimutuel handle on exotic wagers.
(b) Notwithstanding Section 19610, every thoroughbred association and fair that conducts a racing meet shall deduct an additional 0.5 percent of the total amount handled in exotic parimutuel pools of thoroughbred races.
(c) The funds collected pursuant to subdivision (b) from exotic parimutuel pools on thoroughbred races within the inclosure of a thoroughbred association or fair conducting a race meeting, at satellite wagering facilities within this state, and through advance deposit wagering by residents of this state, shall be distributed to the organization described in subdivision (f) to be used in accordance with subdivision (e).
(d) Any thoroughbred association or fair that authorizes a betting system located outside of this state to accept exotic wagers on its races and to combine those wagers in the association’s or fair’s exotic parimutuel pools, including, but not limited to, a multijurisdictional wagering hub as to exotic wagers made by residents other than those of this state, shall deduct the amount specified in subdivision (b) in addition to any other applicable deductions specified in law. The amount deducted pursuant to this subdivision shall be distributed to the organization described in subdivision (f) to be used in accordance with subdivision (e). This additional deduction shall not be included in the amount on which license fees are determined pursuant to Section 19602.
(e) The amounts distributed to the organization described in subdivision (f) shall be deposited by that organization in a separate account to defray the costs of workers’ compensation insurance incurred in connection with thoroughbred horses that race in this state at thoroughbred associations and racing fairs through the payment of supplemental premiums that reduce rates, payment to or for the benefit of trainers and owners of such thoroughbreds, based on the number of such thoroughbreds they start, in order to reimburse them for the costs of workers’ compensation insurance directly or indirectly incurred by them, and other appropriate payments. Any funds that are not used for the purposes set forth in this subdivision shall, after an affirmative vote of at least 25 of the voting interests of the organization described in subdivision (f), either be carried forward to the subsequent year, or be used to reimburse racing associations for the actual cost of health and safety programs, research or safety equipment, or making capital improvements that are designed to prevent workplace accidents and increase the safety of jockeys, exercise riders, backstretch employees, and other racetrack personnel. Those capital improvements shall include, but not be limited to, safety improvements to racing and training surfaces. All requests for reimbursements shall be approved by the board. In developing proposals for approval by the board, the association shall confer with their horsemen’s organizations and all affected labor organizations or associations.
(f) The thoroughbred racing associations and the owners’ organization described in subdivision (b) of Section 19613 shall form an organization to which funds shall be distributed pursuant to subdivisions (c) and (d). This organization shall have a total of 34 voting interests, of which 16 shall be allocated to the organization representing thoroughbred owners pursuant to Section 19613, one shall be allocated to the official registering agency for thoroughbreds in California, and one shall be allocated to the organization representing thoroughbred trainers pursuant to Section 19613. The remaining 16 votes shall be allocated among the licensed racing associations and racing fairs in the state. Each racing association and fair shall receive the portion of these remaining votes represented by the sum of exotic wagering on its races divided by the statewide total of exotic wagering in the preceding calendar year, excluding Breeders’ Cup races. Fractional voting shall be permitted. Any decision of this organization with respect to the allocation of funds pursuant to subdivisions (c) and (d) shall require the affirmative vote of 25 of these voting interests. In the event that the required number of affirmative votes cannot be obtained, the matter shall be submitted to the board for a decision consistent with subdivision (e), and the decision of the board shall be final.
(g) The organization formed pursuant to this section shall account annually to the board with respect to the expenditure and distribution of funds received by the organization pursuant to subdivisions (c) and (d), and shall obtain an independent audit of fund generation and distribution. A copy of the completed audit shall be forwarded to the board within 45 days of its receipt by the organization.
Section 19605.76 is added to the Business and Professions Code, to read:
(a) Notwithstanding Section 19610, a quarter horse racing association may deduct an additional 0.5 percent of the total amount handled in its exotic parimutuel pools. This additional deduction shall only be permitted with the approval of the organization representing quarter horse horsemen and horsewomen at the applicable racing association meet.
(b) Any funds collected pursuant to subdivision (a) from exotic parimutuel pools on races within the inclosure of a racetrack, at satellite wagering facilities within this state, and through advance deposit wagering by residents of this state, shall be distributed to the organization described in subdivision (e) to be used in accordance with subdivision (d).
(c) Any quarter horse racing association that authorizes a betting system located outside of this state to accept exotic wagers on its races and to combine those wagers in the association’s exotic parimutuel pools, including, but not limited to, a multijurisdictional wagering hub as to exotic wagers made by residents other than those of this state, may deduct the amount specified in subdivision (a) in addition to any other applicable deductions specified in law. Any amount deducted pursuant to this subdivision shall be distributed to the organization described in subdivision (e) to be used in accordance with the provisions of subdivision (d). This additional deduction shall not be included in the amount on which license fees are determined pursuant to Section 19602.
(d) The amounts distributed to the organization described in subdivision (e) shall be deposited by that organization in a separate account to defray workers’ compensation insurance costs for trainers and owners who are racing horses at the applicable quarter horse racing association meet. Any funds not expended for this purpose in the calendar year in which they are collected may either be used for the following year’s workers’ compensation costs, as specified above, or to benefit the purse pools at the track where the funds are generated. Funds to benefit purse pools shall be allocated by breed, in the same proportions as each breed generated in deductions under this section at the track in the year the funds were collected.
(e) The quarter horse racing association and the organization representing quarter horse horsemen and horsewomen shall form an organization to which any funds deducted pursuant to subdivisions (b) and (c) shall be distributed. The quarter horse associations collectively shall have representation equal to that of the organization representing quarter horse horsemen and horsewomen on the governing board of the organization formed pursuant to this subdivision.
(f) If the quarter horse racing association and the organization representing quarter horse horsemen and horsewomen cannot agree on the manner for distributing these funds to defray the costs of workers’ compensation insurance, the matter shall be submitted to the board for a decision consistent with subdivision (d), and the decision of the board shall be final.
Section 19605.77 is added to the Business and Professions Code, to read:
(a) Notwithstanding Section 19610, a harness racing association may deduct an additional 1 percent of the total amount handled in conventional parimutuel pools of harness races. This additional deduction shall only be permitted with the approval of the organization representing harness horsemen and horsewomen at the applicable racing association meeting.
(b) Any funds collected pursuant to subdivision (a) from conventional parimutuel pools on harness races within the inclosure of a racetrack, at satellite wagering facilities within this state, and through advance deposit wagering by residents of this state, shall be distributed to the organization described in subdivision (e) to be used in accordance with subdivision (d).
(c) Any harness racing association that authorizes a betting system located outside of this state to accept conventional wagers on its races and to combine those wagers in the association’s conventional parimutuel pools, including, but not limited to, a multijurisdictional wagering hub as to conventional wagers made by residents other than those of this state, may deduct the amount specified in subdivision (a) in addition to any other applicable deductions specified in law. Any amount deducted pursuant to this subdivision shall be distributed to the organization described in subdivision (e) to be used in accordance with the provisions of subdivision (d). This additional deduction shall not be included in the amount on which license fees are determined pursuant to Section 19602.
(d) The amounts distributed to the organization described in subdivision (e) shall be deposited by that organization in a separate account and used to reduce the workers’ compensation insurance costs for trainers who are racing horses at the applicable harness racing association meet. Any funds not expended for this purpose in the calendar year in which they are collected may either be used for the following year’s workers’ compensation costs, as specified above, or to benefit the harness purse pool at the track where the funds are generated.
(e) The harness racing association and the organization representing harness horsemen and horsewomen shall form an organization to which any funds deducted pursuant to subdivisions (b) and (c) shall be distributed. The harness associations collectively shall have representation equal to that of the organization representing harness horsemen and horsewomen on the governing board of the organization formed pursuant to this subdivision.
(f) If the harness racing association and the organization representing harness horsemen and horsewomen cannot agree on the manner for distributing these funds to defray the costs of workers’ compensation insurance, the matter shall be submitted to the board for a decision consistent with subdivision (d), and the decision of the board shall be final.
Section 19605.78 is added to the Business and Professions Code, to read:
(a) Notwithstanding Section 19610 and in addition to the deduction specified in subdivision (b) of Section 19605.75, a fair may deduct an additional 0.5 percent of the total amount handled in exotic parimutuel pools of races for any breed, other than races solely for thoroughbreds. This additional deduction shall only be permitted for a breed’s races with the approval of the organization representing the horsemen and horsewomen of that breed at the fair.
(b) Any funds collected pursuant to subdivision (a) from exotic parimutuel pools on races within the inclosure of a racetrack, at satellite wagering facilities within this state, and through advance deposit wagering by residents of this state, shall be distributed to the organization described in subdivision (e) to be used in accordance with subdivision (d).
(c) Any fair that authorizes a betting system located outside of this state to accept exotic wagers on its races and to combine those wagers in the association’s exotic parimutuel pools, including, but not limited to, a multijurisdictional wagering hub as to exotic wagers made by residents other than those of this state, may deduct the amount specified in subdivision (a) in addition to any other applicable deductions specified in law. Any amount deducted pursuant to this subdivision shall be distributed to the organization described in subdivision (e) to be used in accordance with the provisions of subdivision (d). This additional deduction shall not be included in the amount on which license fees are determined pursuant to Section 19602.
(d) The amounts distributed to the organization described in subdivision (e) shall be deposited by that organization in a separate account to defray workers’ compensation insurance costs for trainers and owners who are racing breeds other than thoroughbreds at the applicable fair. Any funds not expended for this purpose in the calendar year in which they are collected may either be used for the following year’s workers’ compensation costs, as specified above, or to benefit the purse pool of each breed at the particular fair where the funds are generated in the same proportions as each breed generated at that fair in the year the funds are collected.
(e) The fairs and the organizations representing the horsemen and horsewomen of each breed for which deductions have been approved under subdivision (a) shall form an organization to which any funds deducted pursuant to subdivisions (b) and (c) shall be distributed. The fairs collectively shall have representation equal to the collective representation of the organizations representing horsemen and horsewomen on the governing board of the organization formed pursuant to this subdivision.
(f) If the fairs and the organizations representing horsemen and horsewomen cannot agree on the manner for distributing these funds to defray the costs of workers’ compensation insurance, the matter shall be submitted to the board for a decision consistent with subdivision (d), and the decision of the board shall be final.
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.
This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the meaning of Article IV of the Constitution and shall go into immediate effect. The facts constituting the necessity are:
In order to ensure that trainers and owners of certain horse racing breeds receive assistance in defraying workers’ compensation insurance costs, it is necessary that this bill take immediate effect.
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