Sec. 14. 8 MRSA §279-D is enacted to read:

§279-D.__Insurance

Applicants for an owner's license must provide proof of liability insurance on horses owned by the applicant in an amount not less than $300,000.__Copies of that liability insurance coverage must accompany the application for an owner's license.

Sec. 15. 8 MRSA §283, as amended by PL 1999, c. 482, §5, is further amended to read:

§283. Reciprocal disciplinary action

The department shall act to obtain current listings from other states racing jurisdictions of persons in harness racing occupations regulated by the state racing jurisdiction who have been refused a license or who have had their license revoked or suspended. The commission shall refuse to license or shall suspend the license of these persons until notification that they are again eligible for licensing in the state racing jurisdiction or states racing jurisdictions in question.

SUMMARY

This bill accomplishes the following.

1. Current law specifies that the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources "take the lead" in developing state policy with respect to harness racing. This bill instead directs the department to cooperate with the State Harness Racing Commission in developing such state policy.

2. It directs the State Harness Racing Commission to share the duty of reviewing racing-related statutes and rules on an ongoing basis and requires that the appointment of the executive director receive the commissioner's approval.

3. It identifies the executive director's duty to report and recommend changes regarding harness racing as the work of the commission, rather than as the work of the department.

4. It repeals the provision requiring the establishment of trust accounts.