California Assembly Bill AB2011 Introduced / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: AB 2011INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Cooper FEBRUARY 16, 2016 An act to amend Sections 19607.2 and 19607.3 of the Business and Professions Code, relating to horse racing. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 2011, as introduced, Cooper. Horse racing: thoroughbred racing: northern zone: auxiliary offsite stabling, training, and vanning. (1) The Horse Racing Law requires, when satellite wagering is conducted on thoroughbred races at associations or fairs in the northern zone, that an amount not to exceed 1.25% of the total amount handled by all of those satellite wagering facilities be deducted from the funds otherwise allocated for distribution as commissions, purses, and owners' premiums and instead be distributed to an organization formed and operated by thoroughbred racing associations, fairs conducting thoroughbred racing, and the organization representing thoroughbred horsemen, to administer a fund to provide reimbursement for offsite stabling at California Horse Racing Board-approved auxiliary training facilities for additional stalls beyond the number of usable stalls the association or fair is required to make available and maintain, and for the vanning of starters from these additional stalls on racing days for thoroughbred horses. This bill would increase the amount that is required to be deducted to an amount not to exceed 2% and would provide that this amount, if adjusted by the board, may be a different percentage of the handle for different associations and fairs, but only if all the associations and fairs agree to the differing percentages. The bill would establish an auxiliary offsite stabling and training facility and vanning program for thoroughbred races in the northern zone. The bill would revise and recast the provisions governing the organization formed and operated to administer the fund to include, among other things, a 50-50 percentage allocation of specified voting interests on the board of the organization, the use of funds to pay the organization's expenses and compensate the provider of a board-approved auxiliary facility for offsite stabling and training of thoroughbred horses in the northern zone, and the requirement that the organization submit its proposed financial and operational plans for the upcoming calendar year to the board for review no later than November 1 of the preceding year. The bill would also require that the funds be used to cover all or part of the cost of vanning thoroughbred horses in the northern zone from a board-approved auxiliary offsite stabling and training facility and would authorize the organization to enter into multiyear contracts for auxiliary facilities in the northern zone subject to specified conditions. The bill would authorize the organization to use the funds to pay back commissions, purses, and owners' premiums to the extent that the deductions made exceed in any year the amount of the funds necessary to achieve the objectives of the organization. The bill would also authorize a thoroughbred racing association or fair in the northern zone to opt out of the auxiliary offsite stabling and training facility and vanning program, as specified. The bill would provide that the board shall reserve the right to adjudicate any disputes that arise regarding costs, or other matters, relating to the furnishing of offsite stabling, training, or vanning, as specified. (2) By expanding the provisions of the Horse Racing Law, a violation of which is a crime, the bill would create new crimes and would thereby impose a state-mandated local program. (3) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: yes. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 19607.2 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read: 19607.2. Notwithstanding Section 19605.8, when satellite wagering is conducted on thoroughbred races at associations or fairs in the northern zone, an amount not to exceed  1.25   2  percent of the total amount handled by all of those satellite wagering facilities, shall be deducted from the funds otherwise allocated for distribution as commissions, purses, and owners' premiums and instead  be  distributed to an organization formed and operated by thoroughbred racing associations, fairs conducting thoroughbred racing, and the organization representing thoroughbred  horsemen, with each party having meaningful representation   horsemen and horsewomen, for use pursuant to Section 19607.3. A vote of the organization representing thoroughbred horsemen and horsewomen shall constitute 50 percent of all voting interests  on the board of the  organization, to administer, pursuant   organization for   med and operated  to  supervision of   administer  the  board, a fund to provide reimbursement for offsite stabling at board-approved auxiliary training facilities of   fund. The other 50 percent of all voting interests shall be allocated among thoroughbred  racing associations  or  and  fairs  for additional stalls beyond the number of usable stalls the association is required to make available and maintain pursuant to Section 19535,   conducting thoroughbred racing in a manner that provides meaningful representation on the governing board of the organization  for  starter fees   thoroughbred racing associations  and  for the vanning of starters from these additional stalls on race days for thoroughbred horses.   fairs conducting thoroughbred racing, except as provided in subdivision (h) of Section 19607.3.  SEC. 2. Section 19607.3 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read: 19607.3. (a)  The   Notwithstanding Section 19535, the  funds distributed to the organization formed pursuant to Section 19607.2 shall be used to  reimburse racing associations that are operating   pay the organization's expenses and compensate th   e provider of a board-approved auxiliary  offsite  facility for stabling, training, and vanning of thoroughbred horses in the northern zone. The organization administering the auxiliary offsite  stabling  providing additional stalls   and training facility and vanning program shall submit its proposed financial and operational plans  for the  incremental increase in operating costs directly resulting from providing the stabling.   upcoming calendar year to the board for review no later than November 1 of the preceding year.  Neither the organization administering the  auxiliary  offsite stabling and  training facility and  vanning program nor any of the entities forming and operating the organization, except the entity operating the  auxiliary  offsite stabling  and training  facility where the injury occurred, shall be liable for any injury to any jockey, exercise person, owner, trainer, or any employee or agent thereof, or any horse occurring at any  auxiliary  offsite stabling  and training  facility. (b) The funds shall also be used to  reimburse horsemen for   cover all or part of  the cost of vanning  starting   thoroughbred  horses from a board-approved auxiliary  training facility operated by a racing association or fair   offsite stabling and training facility  to the track  conducting the racing meeting. Horsemen may use carriers of their own choice, except that   to start in a thoroughbred race at a thoroughbred or fair racing meeting in  the  amount   northern zone. The organization shall determine the extent  of  reimbursement to horsemen is limited to the amount   and manner in which compensation will be paid for thoroughbred horses  that  the organization determines is generally charged by carriers for vanning   are vanned  from the auxiliary  training  facility to the track  or the fair  conducting the  thoroughbred or fair  racing meeting. Neither the organization administering the  auxiliary  offsite stabling and  training facility and  vanning program nor any of the entities forming and operating the organization, except  the   an  entity actually engaged in vanning horses, is liable for any injury occurring to any individual or horse during vanning from an offsite stabling  and training  facility. (c) The  auxiliary offsite stabling and  training facilities and  the  amenities provided for offsite stabling and training purposes shall be  substantially  equivalent in character to those provided  during   by the thoroughbred  racing  meetings of   association or fair conducting  the  association.   racing meeting.   (d) In order to ensure the long-term availability of facilities for offsite stabling and training, the organization may enter into multiyear contracts for auxiliary facilities in the northern zone. The organization shall submit to the board for its approval the multiyear contracts that it enters into with providers of auxiliary facilities for offsite stabling and training. Contracts not disapproved by the board within 60 days of submittal to the board shall be deemed to have been approved by the board.   (e) At the request of the board, the organization shall submit a report detailing all of its receipts and expenditures over the prior two fiscal years and, upon request of any party within the organization, those receipts and expenditures shall be audited by the board.   (d) Upon the request of any party within the organization, the board shall adjudicate any dispute regarding costs, or other matters relating   (f)     In addition  to the  furnishing   uses  of  offsite stabling or vanning. The board may, if necessary, appoint an independent auditor to assist in the resolution of disputes. The auditor shall be reimbursed from   the funds described in subdivisions (a) and (b), the organization may use  the funds  for both  of the  organization.   following:   (e) The organization may maintain   (1)     Maintain  a reserve fund of up to 10 percent of the total estimated annual vanning and  auxiliary offsite  stabling  and training facility  costs. In addition to the reserve fund, if the funds generated for  the auxiliary  offsite stabling and  training facilities and  vanning are insufficient to fully  reimburse racing associations or fairs for expenses incurred during   cover  the  offsite vanning and stabling program,   expenses incurred,  the organization  may   may, in the future,  accumulate sufficient funds to fully  reimburse   cover  those  associations or fairs for those  expenses.  (2) Pay back commissions, purses, and owners' premiums to the extent the deductions made pursuant to Section 19607.2 exceed in any year the amount of funds necessary to achieve the objectives of the organization.   (f)   (g)  The amount initially deducted and distributed to the organization  shall be 0.5 percent of the total amount handled by satellite wagering facilities authorized under this article in the northern zone on thoroughbred racing, but that allocation may   pursuant to Section 19607.2 may  be adjusted by the board, in its discretion. However, the adjusted amount may not exceed  1.25   2  percent of the total amount handled by satellite wagering  facilities,   facilities. The amount deducted and distributed  to  pay expenses and maintain  the  reserve fund for   organization as adjusted by  the  continuing support   board may be a different percentage  of the  program.   handle for different associations and fairs conducting thoroughbred racing meetings in the northern zone, but only if all the associations and fairs agree to the differing percentages.   (h) A thoroughbred racing association or fair in the northern zone that is able to provide the minimum number of stalls required by its racing meeting license without the use of any auxiliary offsite stabling and training facility and vanning program may opt out of that program, in which case the deduction described in Section 19607.2 shall not apply during the live racing meeting conducted by the association or fair until such time as the association or fair opts back into the auxiliary offsite stabling and training facility and vanning program. Any thoroughbred racing association or fair in the northern zone that opts out of the auxiliary offsite stabling and training facility and vanning program shall not have any voting interest therein until such time as the association or fair opts back into the program. The organization shall establish reasonable procedures and timelines for the giving of notice to the organization by a thoroughbred racing association or fair that elects to opt out of the auxiliary offsite stabling and training facility and vanning program.   (i) The board shall reserve the right to adjudicate any disputes that arise regarding costs, or other matters, relating to the furnishing of offsite stabling, training, or vanning. Notwithstanding any other law, the board shall maintain all powers necessary and proper to ensure that offsite stabling, training, and vanning, as provided for in this article, is conducted in a manner that protects the public and serves the best interests of horse racing.  SEC. 3. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.