BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                       



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          |SENATE RULES COMMITTEE            |                   SB 561|
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                                    CONSENT


          Bill No:  SB 561
          Author:   Margett (R)
          Amended:  As introduced
          Vote:     21

           
           SENATE GOVERNMENTAL ORG. COMMITTEE  :  5-0, 1/8/08
          AYES:  Florez, Maldonado, Negrete McLeod, Wiggins, Yee
          NO VOTE RECORDED:  Battin, Vincent, Wyland, Vacancy


           SUBJECT  :    Horse racing:  pari-mutuel wagering

           SOURCE  :     Author


           DIGEST  :    This bill authorizes electronic terminal  
          wagering to be used in pari-mutuel wagering on horse  
          racing.

           ANALYSIS  :    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.  Existing law  
          provides that the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB)  
          regulate the various forms of horse racing authorized in  
          California.  Existing law authorizes pari-mutuel wagering  
          on horse racing at or disseminated by licensed racing  
          associations and fairs.  Existing law requires the  
          pari-mutuel system of wagering on horse racing to be  
          operated only by a totalizator or other equipment approved  
          by the CHRB.

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                                                                SB 561
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          2

           Totalizator  .  A totalizator is the name of the system which  
          runs pari-mutuel wagering, calculating payoff odds as  
          wagers are made and payouts once a race is complete.   
          Electronic terminals are used by pari-mutuel clerks to key  
          in wagers into the system and by customers who place bets  
          into the system directly or through a wagering hub.

           FISCAL EFFECT  :    Appropriation:  No   Fiscal Com.:  No    
          Local:  No

           SUPPORT  :   (Verified  1/9/08)

          Golden Gate Fields
          Santa Anita Racecourse


           ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT  :    According to the author's office,  
          this bill makes a techincal change to update the law to  
          keep up with technology.  In addition, the author's office  
          indicates that this bill may be used to make any statutory  
          changes necessary to implement AB 765 (Evans), Chapter 613,  
          Statutes of 2007, which reauthorized advanced deposit  
          wagering in California.


          DLW:mw  1/9/08   Senate Floor Analyses 

                         SUPPORT/OPPOSITION:  SEE ABOVE

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