BILL ANALYSIS
Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
856 (Wesson)
Hearing Date: 7/9/01 Amended: 7/2/01
Consultant: Maureen Brooks Policy Vote: G. O. 9-2
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BILL SUMMARY: AB 856 requires the California Horse Racing
Board (CHRB) to oversee the conduct of a union recognition
election for racetrack backstretch employees; requires the
election to be conducted by the California State Mediation
and Conciliation Service (CSMCS); requires CHRB beginning
1/1/03 to annually inspect the living conditions of
backstretch employee housing; and increases from 20% to 50%
the amount contributed to charities from charity racing
days.
Fiscal Impact (in thousands)
Major Provisions 2001-02 2002-03
2003-04 Fund
CHRB :
Inspections $64 $128
$128
Potentially offset by
fee revenue General
Computer upgrade $30 $0
$0 General
Administration ------------------unknown---------------------
General
Payroll audits $250 $250
$250 General
CSMCS election
----------------unknown------------------------- General
STAFF COMMENTS: This bill meets the criteria to be placed
on the Suspense file.
The Horse Racing Board will need to adopt regulations
relating to labor agreements, meeting times for union
representatives and backstretch workers, and to establish
standards for backstretch employee housing.
AB 856 requires the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement
of the Department of Industrial Relations to conduct audits
of payroll records of trainers who are not parties to a
collective bargaining agreement and who operate in
California for 90 or more racing days in a calendar year.
Additionally, this bill provides that the health and
welfare fund for backstretch personnel will be administered
by a board consisting of two representatives of backstretch
personnel and two representatives of the trainer's
organization.
This bill is similar to AB 2760 (Wesson) which was vetoed
by Governor Davis last year because it also contained other
provisions which were deemed as an expansion of gambling.