BILL ANALYSIS
SENATE FOOD and AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE
Senator Dean Florez, Chairman
BILL NO: SB 1321 HEARING: 4/20/10
AUTHOR: Kehoe FISCAL: No
VERSION: 4/15/10 CONSULTANT: John Chandler
State Race Track Leasing Commission: Director of General
Services: powers and duties.
BACKGROUND AND EXISTING LAW
Over 140 years ago, California began organizing what is today
one of the largest fair systems in the nation. The 54 district
agricultural associations, state agency fairs, are managed under
the Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) in the Division of
Fairs and Expositions. Each fair operates with a degree of
autonomy with a board of directors appointed by the governor and
in accordance with state law governing the operation of state
agencies.
The 22nd District Agricultural Association (22nd DAA) manages
and operates the Del Mar Fairgrounds; its nearby equestrian
facility, the Horsepark; and the Del Mar Golf Center, on behalf
of the State of California. Purchased in 1936, the 22nd DAA is
located in San Diego County between the Pacific Ocean and
Interstate 5 in the town of Del Mar.
Existing law provides for the State Race Track Leasing
Commission, which is composed of the directors of CDFA,
Department of Finance (DOF), and Department of General Services
(DGS), and three individuals, appointed by the governor, who are
members of the Board of Directors of the 22nd DAA.
Existing law provides that the State Race Track Leasing
Commission shall prepare a master plan for the long-range
development on the property of the 22nd DAA. The master plan
for the 22nd DAA is subject to amendment by the State Race Track
Leasing Commission.
Current law provides that the State Race Track Leasing
Commission may enter into leases or other agreements for the use
of the Del Mar Race Track. The commission is required to follow
the same procedures in leasing, or entering into agreements for
the use of, the Del Mar Race Track as DGS follows in leasing, or
entering into agreements, for other state real property.
Existing law provides that no legislative action is required to
SB 1321 - Page 2
make effective and operative any lease awarded, or agreement
entered into, by the commission.
After the award of a lease or entering into an agreement, for
the use of the Del Mar Race Track, the commission shall meet
from time to time to review the operation of the lease or
agreement, the master plan, and any other related matters.
Existing law provides that all revenues distributed to the state
as license fees from satellite wagering facilities shall be
deposited in the Satellite Wagering Account. Furthermore,
current law proscribes that the primary call for funds from the
Satellite Wagering Account be for payment to the State Race
Track Leasing Commission to be pledged for the repayment of debt
necessary to construct a racetrack grandstand at the 22nd
District Agricultural Association fairgrounds.
Existing Law provides that the director of any state agency may
designate a deputy director of the department to act in place or
stead of the director on a state board, commission, committee,
or the governing body of any state agency or authority.
Furthermore, current law specifies that not more than one
director may be represented by a deputy at any meeting or
session. There also exists within law a specific provision that
provides that the Controller, Treasurer, Director of Finance, or
the Superintendent of Public Instruction may designate any
deputy of his or her office to act in place or stead on any
state board, commission, committee, or governing board of a
state agency or authority.
SB 1177 (Kehoe) would require the 22nd DAA to establish a
100-foot greenway and public trail on the fairgrounds along the
northern bank of the San Dieguito River by January 1, 2014.
Currently, this bill is in the Senate Food and Agriculture
Committee.
PROPOSED LAW
SB 1321 would specify that the Director of the Department of
General Services and Secretary of Food and Agriculture may
designate a deputy to act in his or her place on the State Race
Track Leasing Commission with all the rights and powers as the
respective director if they were personally present.
COMMENTS
1.Currently, CDFA and DGS are not able to both send a designated
SB 1321 - Page 3
deputy to act in place of the director to the same State Race
Track leasing Commission meeting. As a result, one of the two
department designees is unable to vote on commission matters
during meetings; thus, state officials are not fully
represented on the State Race Track Leasing Commission.
SB 1321 would clarify that designees of CDFA and DGS may
always participate in a State Race Track Leasing Commission
meeting as full voting members.
SUPPORT
None received
OPPOSITION
None received