BILL ANALYSIS
AB 1575
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 1575 (Governmental Organization Committee)
As Introduced March 23, 2009
Majority vote
GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION 16-0APPROPRIATIONS 16-0
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|Ayes:|Price, Anderson, Chesbro, |Ayes:|De Leon, Nielsen, |
| |Cook, De Leon, Evans, | |Ammiano, |
| |Galgiani, Hall, Hill, | |Charles Calderon, Davis, |
| |Lieu, Mendoza, Nestande, | |Duvall, Krekorian, Hall, |
| |Portantino, Torres, | |Harkey, Miller, |
| |Torrico, Tran | |John A. Perez, Price, |
| | | |Skinner, Solorio, Audra |
| | | |Strickland, Torlakson |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Makes numerous technical, clarifying, and conforming
changes in order to update and condense where possible, current
horse racing statutes found in the Business and Professions
Code. Specifically, this bill :
1)Includes outriders in the definition of racing officials thus
requiring them to be licensed, as specified.
2)Provides that oral examinations for stewards shall be
conducted by a panel of not less than 3 members of the board,
while oral examinations for official veterinarians shall be
conducted by a panel of not less than one member of the board,
the equine medical director, and the executive director of the
CHRB.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Provides that CHRB regulate the various forms of horse racing
authorized in this state.
2)Provides under the Horse Racing Law, for the operation of live
horse racing in this state and for wagering thereon, and for
the operation of satellite wagering facilities, subject to
regulation and oversight by the CHRB, as specified.
AB 1575
Page 2
3)Defines "racing official" as the starter, timer, paddock
judge, horseshoe inspector, horse identifier, official
veterinarian, racing veterinarian, associate judge, placing
judge, patrol judge, clerk of scales, clerk of the course, and
any other person acting as an official at any horse racing
meeting.
4)Provides that every steward and racing official shall be
licensed and subject to both written and oral examinations, as
specified. "Racing official" is defined to include official
veterinarians. In general, persons who participate in a horse
race without proper licensure are guilty of a misdemeanor.
FISCAL EFFECT : There are no significant costs for CHRB
associated with changing the make-up of the oral licensing
examination panel for veterinarians. Increased licensing
revenue for CHRB associated with adding outriders to the
definition of horse racing officials. Licenses for those
officials are $150 for a three year license. Formerly the
outriders' licensing costs were $75 for a three year license.
COMMENTS : AB 1575 is a Governmental Organization Committee bill
that makes numerous technical, clarifying, and conforming
changes in order to update and condense where possible, current
horse racing statutes found in the Business and Professions Code
(Section 19400 et seq.). The bill also takes into consideration
current practices and procedures of the CHRB to ensure
protection of the wagering public while providing uniformity of
regulation for each type of horse racing conducted in
California.
The language contained is this bill was put forth by the CHRB.
Under current law, a person who works in the barn area or on the
racetrack must be licensed by the CHRB. A racing official is
generally described as a person who has contact and/or
interaction with the Board of Stewards on racing matters. Since
an outrider maintains close contact and takes direction from the
stewards via a hand held radio each day, these individuals
should be treated as an official for purposes of licensure.
The bill also contains language relating to oral examinations
for stewards and official veterinarians. The stated amendment
will ensure that appropriate representatives from the CHRB
AB 1575
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participate in oral examinations for specified positions.
Additionally, SBX2 16 (Ashburn), Chapter 12, Statutes of 2009-10
Second Extraordinary Session, shifted the horse racing
industry's obligation to fund the network of California Fairs
from license fees imposed on horse racing wagers to the General
Fund (GF). The bill provided various measures of economic
stimulus for the horse racing industry. The bill also contained
numerous technical, clarifying and conforming changes to horse
racing codes, which might need to be clarified and/or
streamlined in this bill.
Related legislation . AB 840 (Garrick), of the 2009-2010
legislative session, makes a technical change to the intent
section of Horse Racing Law to specify that it is the intent to
of the law to allow pari-mutuel wagering on horse races while
ensuring the protection of the public. Pending in Assembly
Rules Committee.
Prior legislation . SB 16 X2 (Ashburn), Chapter 12, Statutes of
2009-10 Second Extraordinary Session, provides among other
things, that beginning on July 1, 2009, and annually thereafter,
thirty-two million ($32,000,000) shall be appropriated from the
state's General Fund and paid into the Fair and Exposition Fund
for the financial support of the network of California fairs.
SB 2054 (Senate Governmental Organization Committee), Chapter
1082, Statutes of 2000, amended the Horse Racing Law by
deleting obsolete provisions, correcting erroneous and outdated
cross-references, and making numerous other technical,
nonsubstantive changes.
Analysis Prepared by : Eric Johnson / G. O. / (916) 319-2531
FN: 0000703