BILL ANALYSIS
Bill No: AB
1575
SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION
Senator Roderick D. Wright, Chair
2009-2010 Regular Session
Staff Analysis
AB 1575 Author: Committee on Governmental Organization
As Introduced: March 23, 2009
Hearing Date: July 8, 2009
Consultant: Chris Lindstrom
SUBJECT
Horse racing officials: stewards, outriders, and official
veterinarians.
DESCRIPTION
AB 1575 makes numerous technical, clarifying, and
conforming changes to the Business and Professions Code in
order to update and condense current provisions of the
Horse Racing Law. Specifically, the bill:
1)Includes outriders in the definition of "racing
official."
2)Provides that oral examinations for stewards shall be
conducted by a panel of not less than three (3) members
of the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB).
3)Requires oral examinations for official veterinarians to
be conducted by a panel of not less than one member of
CHRB, the equine medical director, and the executive
director of CHRB.
EXISTING LAW
Existing law provides that CHRB regulate the various forms
of horse racing authorized in this state.
Existing law provides, under the Horse Racing Law, for the
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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
CHRB, as specified.
Existing law 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.
Existing law provides that every steward and official
veterinarian shall be licensed by CHRB and subject to both
written and oral examinations, as specified. Provides that
all examinations shall be standardized and, the in case of
oral examinations, tape recorded. Requires oral
examinations to be conducted by a panel of not less than
three (3) members of CHRB. Authorizes written examinations
to be administered by staff members of CHRB.
Existing law provides that no person that is required to be
licensed may participate in any capacity in any horse race
meeting without a valid and unrevoked license. In general,
persons who participate in a horse race without proper
licensure are guilty of a misdemeanor.
BACKGROUND
Purpose of the bill. 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.
Background. Under current law, a person who works in the
barn area or on the racetrack must be licensed by CHRB. A
racing official is generally described as a person who has
contact and/or interaction with the Board of Stewards on
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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 participate in oral
examinations for specified positions.
PRIOR/RELATED LEGISLATION
SB 2054 (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.
SUPPORT : None on file as of July 6, 2009.
OPPOSE : None on file as of July 6, 2009.
FISCAL COMMITTEE : Senate Appropriations Committee
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