BILL NUMBER: AB 763INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Chesbro 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. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 763, as introduced, Chesbro. Horse racing: Humboldt County Fair. (1) 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 out-of-state thoroughbred horse races, 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. Vote: majority. Appropriation: yes. 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 any other provision of law, during calendar periods when a thoroughbred association or 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 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 on out-of-state thoroughbred races commencing 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. (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.