BILL NUMBER: AB 763	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 2, 2009

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Chesbro
    (   Coauthor:   Senator   Wiggins
  ) 

                        FEBRUARY 26, 2009

   An act to add Section 19596.21 to the Business and Professions
Code, relating to horse racing, and  making an appropriation
therefor   declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect
immediately  .



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 763, as amended, Chesbro. Horse racing: Humboldt County Fair.

   (1) Existing 
    Existing  law provides for the operation of live horse
racing by associations and fairs, and for wagering thereon, and for
the operation of satellite wagering facilities, subject to regulation
and oversight by the California Horse Racing Board, as specified.
   This bill would, during calendar periods when a thoroughbred
association or fair in the northern zone and the Humboldt County Fair
simultaneously conduct live race meetings, permit the Humboldt
County Fair and a thoroughbred association in the southern zone when
conducting a live race meeting to accept wagers on the result of 
not more than 8  out-of-state thoroughbred horse races  in
addition to those already authorized in law  , if specified
conditions are met. 
   (2) Under existing law, all revenues distributed to the state as
license fees from horse racing are required to be deposited in the
Fair and Exposition Fund and are continuously appropriated to the
Department of Food and Agriculture for various regulatory and general
governmental purposes.  
   This bill would authorize additional wagering, and would increase
the amount of continuously appropriated license fees, thereby making
an appropriation.  
   This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as
an urgency statute. 
   Vote:  majority   2/3  . Appropriation:
 yes   no  . Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 19596.21 is added to the Business and
Professions Code, to read:
   19596.21.  (a)  Notwithstanding   In addition
to the authorizations to accept wagers on out-of-state and
out-of-country races pursuant to Sections 19596.2 and 19596.3 and in
 any other provision of law, during calendar periods when a
thoroughbred association or  another  fair in the northern
zone and the Humboldt County Fair simultaneously conduct live race
meetings, the Humboldt County Fair and a thoroughbred association in
the southern zone when conducting a live race meeting may accept
wagers on  the result of  days when live races
are being run on the results of not more than eight 
out-of-state thoroughbred horse races, if all of the following
conditions are met:
   (1) 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.
   (2) The Humboldt County Fair conducts at least six live races
 , and the fair and the thoroughbred association in the
southern zone import not more than eight out-of-state races on those
days during a racing meeting when live races are being run. 
 . 
   (3) The Humboldt County Fair and thoroughbred association in the
southern zone shall accept wagers   these wagers
on   ly  on out-of-state thoroughbred races 
commencing   that commence  before 4:30 p.m.,
Pacific standard  time, without the consent of an association
that is then conducting a live racing meeting in this state.
  time. 
   (b) The Humboldt County Fair may contract with the thoroughbred
association or fair in the southern zone to distribute the signal
statewide on its behalf.
   (c) Any thoroughbred association or fair accepting wagers pursuant
to this section shall conduct the wagering in accordance with the
applicable provisions of Sections 19601, 19616, 19616.1, and 19616.2,
except that subdivision (i) of Section 19601 shall not be applicable
for the purpose of fulfilling the authorization described in this
section.
   SEC. 2.   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 alleviate economic uncertainty for the Humboldt County
Fair, preserve jobs, ensure that live horse racing continues in
Humboldt County each year, and for this act to apply to the 2009
racing season, it is necessary that this act take effect immediately.