BILL ANALYSIS
AB 136
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CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB 136 (Silva)
As Amended August 17, 2009
2/3 vote. Urgency
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|ASSEMBLY: |72-0 |(May 14, 2009) |SENATE: |33-0 |(September 1, |
| | | | | |2009) |
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Original Committee Reference: G.O.
SUMMARY : Deletes the limitation on the total number of
out-of-state or out-of-country harness or quarter horse races
that may be imported in a calendar year by a harness or quarter
horse racing association.
The Senate amendments add an urgency clause.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Provides that the California Horseracing Board (CHRB) regulate
the various forms of horse racing authorized in this state.
2)Provides CHRB is authorized to permit a harness or Quarter
Horse association conducting a race meeting to accept wagers
on the results of up to eight out-of-state or out-of-country
harness or Quarter Horse races per day, if specified
conditions are met. If only one breed is being raced on a
given day, the racing association conducting live racing may
import those races that would otherwise be simulcast by the
association that is not racing, as specified.
3)Provides the total number of harness or Quarter Horse races
imported in a calendar year may not exceed the number of night
races imported in 1998 after 5:30 p.m.
4)Authorizes a licensed Quarter Horse racing association that is
conducting a live racing meeting in this state to accept
wagers on races conducted by the racing association that
conducts the American Quarter Horse Racing Challenge, if the
races are conducted on the same day as the American Quarter
Horse Racing Challenge.
AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY , this bill deleted the limitation
AB 136
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regarding the total number of harness or Quarter Horse races,
which may be imported in a calendar year by a Quarter Horse or
harness racing association.
FISCAL EFFECT : Potential increase in revenue available to fund
the CHRB and the Kenneth L. Maddy Equine Analytical Laboratory
at the University of California, Davis due to increased wagering
opportunities.
COMMENTS : This bill provides clean-up to AB 2048 (Silva),
Chapter 439, Statutes of 2008. That bill allowed a harness and
Quarter Horse racing association to import an additional two
races, from six to eight, on live racing days from out-of-state
and out-of-country locations. Under current law, however, there
is a limitation on the number of races that can be imported
annually, which prohibits harness and Quarter Horse racing from
taking advantage of the additional two races per day allowed in
AB 2048. By removing that annual limitation, this bill allows
AB 2048 to be fully implemented.
Other legislation: SB 1183 (Margett), Chapter 232, Statutes of
2004, authorized a harness racing association that is conducting
a live race meeting to accept wagers on the full card of races
conducted by another racing association on the day the other
racing association conducts the Breeder's Crown Stakes, the
Meadowlands Pace, the Hambletonian or the North American Cup.
SB 2035 (Karnette), Chapter 268, Statutes of 2002, allowed a
harness or Quarter Horse racing association to "bank" up to two
out-of-state or out-of-county imported races on a specific race
day, and then add those races to another race day's
importation schedule.
Analysis Prepared by : Eric Johnson / G. O. / (916) 319-2531
FN: 0002281