BILL ANALYSIS
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | AB 1992|
|Office of Senate Floor Analyses | |
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|327-4478 | |
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THIRD READING
Bill No: AB 1992
Author: Portantino (D)
Amended: 3/24/10 in Assembly
Vote: 21
SENATE GOVERNMENTAL ORG. COMMITTEE : 6-0, 6/9/10
AYES: Wright, Negrete McLeod, Padilla, Price, Wyland, Yee
NO VOTE RECORDED: Harman, Calderon, Denham, Florez,
Oropeza
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : Senate Rule 28.8
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 76-0, 5/13/10 - See last page for vote
SUBJECT : Horse racing: safety standards: racing surface
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill requires the California Horse Racing
Board to establish and maintain its current safety
standards for racing surfaces whether the surface is
synthetic or dirt, and for the maintenance of the racing
surface.
ANALYSIS : Existing law provides that the California
Horse Racing Board (CHRB) regulate the various forms of
horse racing authorized in this state. Existing law also
requires the CHRB to establish safety standards governing
the uniformity and content of the racing surface.
CONTINUED
AB 1992
Page
2
Comments
In 2006, the CHRB adopted a rule to require the
installation of a synthetic surface at all racetracks that
conduct more than four weeks of racing in California by the
end of 2007. The tracks impacted were Santa Anita,
Hollywood Park, Golden Gate Fields, Bay Meadows and Del
Mar. The CHRB stated that it viewed synthetic surfaces as
crucial to the health and safety of the jockeys, horses,
and other directly related participants in racing. Various
racing associations (tracks), owners, trainers and jockeys
also expressed interest in converting to synthetic type
racing surfaces. It was believed that this type of surface
would provide a more consistent and safer racing surface
which would save money in maintenance costs. To date, all
of the tracks have met the mandate. Bay Meadows has ceased
live racing operations. It has been reported that the cost
of installing a synthetic surface costs between $6 million
and $10 million per track.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: No
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : According to the author's office,
this bill ensures that California remains one of the most
proactive racing jurisdictions in the country in its
efforts to reduce racetrack injuries and afford
participants the most protection possible, whether in track
safety or in safe practices. The bill gives the CHRB and
the racing industry a tool to stay committed to a high
degree of transparency in the conduct of all its activities
related to safety and integrity for its human and equine
athletes. The author's office states that when owners,
trainers, tracks, and other industry participants work
together on an issue such as track safety, will lead to
standards which will benefit the entire industry.
ASSEMBLY FLOOR :
AYES: Adams, Ammiano, Anderson, Arambula, Bass, Beall,
Bill Berryhill, Tom Berryhill, Blakeslee, Block,
Blumenfield, Bradford, Brownley, Buchanan, Charles
Calderon, Carter, Chesbro, Conway, Cook, Coto, Davis, De
La Torre, De Leon, DeVore, Emmerson, Eng, Evans, Feuer,
AB 1992
Page
3
Fletcher, Fong, Fuentes, Fuller, Furutani, Gaines,
Galgiani, Garrick, Gilmore, Hagman, Hall, Harkey,
Hayashi, Hernandez, Hill, Huber, Huffman, Jeffries,
Jones, Knight, Lieu, Logue, Bonnie Lowenthal, Ma,
Mendoza, Miller, Monning, Nava, Nestande, Niello,
Nielsen, V. Manuel Perez, Portantino, Ruskin, Salas,
Saldana, Silva, Smyth, Solorio, Audra Strickland,
Swanson, Torlakson, Torres, Torrico, Tran, Villines,
Yamada, John A. Perez
NO VOTE RECORDED: Caballero, Norby, Skinner, Vacancy
TSM:do 6/29/10 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: NONE RECEIVED
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