BILL NUMBER: AB 270	CHAPTERED  05/26/99

	CHAPTER   28
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE   MAY 26, 1999
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR   MAY 26, 1999
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY   MAY 24, 1999
	PASSED THE SENATE   MAY 20, 1999
	AMENDED IN SENATE   MAY 3, 1999
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   MARCH 18, 1999

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Floyd

                        FEBRUARY 3, 1999

   An act to amend  Section 19596.1 of the Business and Professions
Code, relating to horse racing, making an appropriation therefor, and
declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 270, Floyd.  Horse racing.
   (1) Under existing law, the California Horse Racing Board may
authorize an association conducting a racing meeting to accept wagers
on the results of out-of-state harness or quarter horse features or
stakes races, and with the board's approval and the concurrence of
the horsemen's organization contracting with the association, other
designated harness or quarter horse races, if the authorization
complies with specified provisions of federal law, the wagering is
offered only within the inclosure and only within 36 hours of the
running of the out-of-state feature race, the association conducts at
least 7 live races and imports no more than 4 races on live racing
days, and, on days when live races are not being conducted, the purse
in the out-of-state race is $100,000 or more.
   This bill would limit this provision to harness and quarter horse
associations, and would provide that the board may authorize these
associations to accept wagers on up to 6 out-of-state or
out-of-country harness or quarter horse races on any given live
racing day, and, subject to specified conditions, to import
additional races if only one breed is being raced on a given live
racing day, the purse amount from which, after the usual deductions,
including the portion for the racing association, would be
distributed equally in the form of purses for harness and quarter
horse horsemen.  This bill would also delete the requirement that
races imported under this provision be  feature races or stake races
with a purse of $100,000 or more.
   (2) Under existing law, all revenues distributed to the state as
license fees from horse racing are required to be distributed in the
Fair and Exposition Fund and are continuously appropriated to the
Department of Food and Agriculture for various regulatory and general
governmental purposes.
   By providing for the importation of additional out-of-state and
out-of-country races, this bill would authorize additional wagering,
and would increase the amount of continuously appropriated license
fees, thereby making an appropriation.
   (3) This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately
as an urgency statute.
   Appropriation:  yes.


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


  SECTION 1.  Section 19596.1 of the Business and Professions Code is
amended to read:
   19596.1.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the board
may authorize a harness or quarter horse association conducting a
race meeting to accept wagers on the results of out-of-state or
out-of-country harness or quarter horse races and, with the board's
approval and with the concurrence of the horsemen's organization
contracting with the association, other designated harness or quarter
horse races during the period it is conducting the racing meeting,
if all of the following conditions are met:
   (a) The authorization complies with federal laws, including, but
not limited to, Chapter 57 (commencing with Section 3001) of Title 15
of the United States Code.
   (b) Wagering is offered only within the racing inclosure and only
within 36 hours of the running of the out-of-state feature race.
   (c) The association conducts at least seven live races, and
imports not more than six races on those days during a racing meeting
when live races are being run.
   (d) If only one breed of horse specified in this section is being
raced on a given day, then the association conducting the live racing
may import those races which would otherwise be simulcast by the
association which is not racing, provided that the total number of
harness or quarter horse races imported in a calendar year does not
exceed the number of night races imported in 1998 after 5:30 p.m.
After the usual deductions, including the portion for the racing
association, the portion remaining for purses from these races shall
be distributed equally for purses for harness horsemen and quarter
horse horsemen.
  SEC. 4.  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 enable the California Horse Racing Board to authorize
the importation of additional out-of-state and out-of-country harness
and quarter horse races, and to clarify the requirements and
limitations imposed on the importation of these races at the earliest
possible time, it is necessary that this act take effect
immediately.