SLS 23RS-330 ENGROSSED
2023 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 144
BY SENATOR CORTEZ
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
HORSE RACING. Provides relative to horse racing. (gov sig)
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 4:147(1) and 214.1 and R.S. 27:361(B)(4) and 435(D)(4),
3 relative to horse racing; to provide for the number of live horse racing dates; to
4 provide for the minimum number of live races required per race day; to provide for
5 payment of franchise fees from certain slot machine proceeds to support pari-mutuel
6 wagering facilities; to provide for contributions from certain video draw poker
7 devices proceeds to the support of pari-mutuel wagering facilities; and to provide for
8 related matters.
9 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
10 Section 1. R.S. 4:147(1) and 214.1 are hereby amended and reenacted to read as
11 follows:
12 §147. Specific duties of commission
13 The commission shall carry out the provisions of this Part, including the
14 following specific duties:
15 (1)(a) To assign the dates race meetings may be conducted in this state at a
16 any particular track, including dates which limit racing at a particular track for
17 quarter horses only, provided that:
Page 1 of 5
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 144
SLS 23RS-330 ENGROSSED
1 (i) It To the extent possible, it shall prohibit the conducting of any
2 thoroughbred race meetings having the same or overlapping dates for such race
3 meetings at thoroughbred race tracks within a radius of one hundred miles of each
4 other the state.
5 (ii) It To the extent possible, it shall prohibit the conducting of any
6 exclusively quarter horse race meetings having the same or overlapping dates for
7 such race meetings at any other exclusively quarter horse track within a radius of one
8 hundred miles of each other the state.
9 (b) To set the minimum number of live races required per race day at a any
10 particular track.
11 * * *
12 §214.1. Minimum live racing dates; offtrack and other authorized wagering
13 A. An association shall not be licensed to conduct offtrack or other
14 authorized wagering in the state unless it conducts live horse racing for not less than
15 one hundred thirty racing days within each fifty-two week period at the facility
16 designated in its license. Of the required one hundred thirty racing days, not less than
17 eighty-four sixty and not more than seventy days shall be thoroughbred horse
18 racing days conducted during twenty-one consecutive weeks and not less than forty
19 and not more than forty-six days shall be quarter horse racing days conducted
20 during twelve consecutive weeks. The foregoing minimum racing requirements are
21 mandatory unless the association is prevented from live racing as a result of a natural
22 disaster, an act of God, force majeure, a catastrophe, or such other occurrence over
23 which the association has no control. When a pari-mutuel wagering facility and a
24 related offtrack betting facility are sold, the purchaser shall conduct the minimum
25 number of live racing days, including the minimum quarter horse racing days,
26 required by this Section as a condition of operating the offtrack betting facility.
27 B. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, at any facility
28 subject to the provisions of R.S. 27:372.1(A), the facility shall maintain a minimum
29 of eighty sixty and a maximum of seventy thoroughbred horse racing days
Page 2 of 5
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 144
SLS 23RS-330 ENGROSSED
1 conducted during twenty consecutive weeks and not less than fifteen days of quarter
2 horse racing conducted during five consecutive weeks. The racing days provided for
3 in this Subsection shall be conducted within a fifty-two week period. The foregoing
4 minimum racing requirements are mandatory unless the association is prevented
5 from live racing as a result of a natural disaster, an act of God, force majeure, a
6 catastrophe, or such other occurrence over which the association has no control.
7 When a pari-mutuel wagering facility and a related offtrack betting facility are sold,
8 the purchaser shall conduct the minimum number of live racing days, including the
9 minimum quarter horse racing days, required by this Section as a condition of
10 operating the offtrack betting facility.
11 Section 2. R.S. 27:361(B)(4) and 435(D)(4) are hereby amended and reenacted to
12 read as follows:
13 §361. Conduct of slot machine gaming; temporary conduct
14 * * *
15 B. As a condition of licensing and to maintain continued authority for the
16 conduct of slot machine gaming at the licensed eligible facility, the owner of the
17 licensed eligible facility shall:
18 * * *
19 (4) Contribute to the support of pari-mutuel wagering facilities in the state
20 at large and the horse breeding industry by paying annually from the annual net slot
21 machine proceeds received from slot machine gaming operations at the licensed
22 facility that is eligible facility as provided in this Paragraph:
23 * * *
24 §435. Licensing by division; fees; franchise payments; enforcement activities
25 * * *
26 D.(1) * * *
27 (4) Of the amount attributable to the payment of franchise fees as required
28 in this Section, an amount equal to the avails of one-half of one percent of the
29 franchise fee rate shall be allocated as provided in R.S. 27:437 27:437(C) and
Page 3 of 5
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 144
SLS 23RS-330 ENGROSSED
1 appropriated by the legislature as provided in R.S. 27:439 27:439(B).
2 * * *
3 Section 3. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
4 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
5 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
6 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
7 effective on the day following such approval.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Alan Miller.
DIGEST
SB 144 Engrossed 2023 Regular Session Cortez
Present law provides for the specific duty of the Louisiana State Racing Commission
(LSRC) to assign the dates race meetings are authorized to be conducted in this state at a
particular track, including dates which limit racing at a particular track for quarter horses
only.
Proposed law makes technical changes.
Present law prohibits the conducting of any thoroughbred race meetings having the same or
overlapping dates for such race meetings at thoroughbred race tracks within a radius of 100
miles of each other.
Proposed law prohibits, to the extent possible, the conducting of any thoroughbred race
meetings having the same or overlapping dates for such race meetings at thoroughbred race
tracks within the state.
Present law prohibits the conducting of any quarter horse race meetings having the same or
overlapping dates for such race meetings at quarter horse race tracks within a radius of 100
miles of each other.
Proposed law prohibits, to the extent possible, the conducting of any quarter horse race
meetings having the same or overlapping dates for such race meetings at quarter horse race
tracks within the state.
Present law provides for the specific duty of the LSRC to set the minimum number of live
races per race day at a particular track.
Proposed law makes technical changes.
Present law sets the minimum number of thoroughbred racing days at not less than 84 at
each race track.
Proposed law reduces the number of thoroughbred racing days from not less than 84 to not
less than 60 nor more than 70 at each race track.
Present law sets the minimum number of quarter horse racing days at not less than 46 at each
race track.
Page 4 of 5
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 144
SLS 23RS-330 ENGROSSED
Proposed law changes the number of quarter horse racing days from not less than 46 to not
less than 40 nor more than 46 at each race track.
Present law, regarding slot machine gaming at race tracks, requires that, as a condition of
licensing for the conduct of slot machine gaming at race tracks, the owner of the race track
shall contribute to the support of pari-mutuel wagering facilities and the horse breeding
industry. Provides that the contribution be in the form of a fixed percentage of net slot
machine proceeds received from slot machine gaming operations at the race track.
Proposed law makes technical changes.
Present law, regarding video draw poker gaming, provides for franchise fees to be paid by
the device owner in an amount equal to a percentage of the net device revenue derived from
the operation of each video draw poker device. Provides that the amount of the percentage
is based on the type of licensed establishment. Provides that .5% of the avails shall be
allocated to the La. State Racing Commission for purse supplements and support of certain
horsemen's associations.
Proposed law makes technical changes.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 4:147(1) and 214.1 and R.S. 27:361(B)(4) and 435(D)(4))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Judiciary B to the
original bill
1. Makes technical changes.
2. Adds provision that prohibits, to the extent possible, the conducting of any
thoroughbred race meetings having the same or overlapping dates for such
race meetings at thoroughbred race tracks within the state.
3. Adds provision that prohibits, to the extent possible, the conducting of any
quarter horse race meetings having the same or overlapping dates for such
race meetings at quarter horse race tracks within the state.
4. Reduces the number of thoroughbred racing days from not less than 84 to not
less than 60, nor more than 70 at each race track.
5. Reduces the number of quarter horse racing days from not less than 46 to not
less than 40, nor more than 46 at each race track.
Page 5 of 5
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.