HP1220, LD 1766, item 2, Document Text

Amend the bill by striking out all of section 1 and inserting the following:

‘Sec. 1. 8 MRSA §263-A, sub-§§6 and 7 are enacted to read:

6. Promotion of harness racing. The commission shall promote harness racing in the State through the formation of advisory subcommittees, the facilitation of marketing plans and the expenditure or granting of funds.

7. Input on the promotion of harness racing. The commission shall invite input from a statewide association of harness horsemen, a statewide association of Standardbred breeders, a statewide association of agricultural fairs and persons who are members of organizations representing the interests of commercial harness racing tracks and off-track betting facilities on the marketing and promotion of harness racing in this State.

Sec. 2. 8 MRSA §267, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2017, c. 231, §5, is further amended to read:

2. Report. Beginning April 1, 2018 February 15, 2019, and annually thereafter, the commission shall submit a report to the commissioner and the joint standing committees of the Legislature having jurisdiction over slot machines, harness racing, agricultural fairs and appropriations and financial affairs. This report must include an account of the commission's operations and actions, a report of its financial position, including receipts and disbursements, an account of the practical effects of application of this chapter and any recommended legislation. The operations report must include the number and types of violations of racing laws and rules, the disposition of those violations and the amount of time required for their disposition, including a history of any appeals. The report must include the date and amount of each administrative assessment withdrawn in accordance with section 267-A from each of the assessed funds under section 267-A, subsection 4. The report must include an account of the commission's operations and actions regarding the promotion of harness racing, a summary of income and expenses of the Harness Racing Promotional Fund, including any receipts and disbursements, and an assessment of the economic condition of the harness racing industry in this State.’

Amend the bill in section 4 in §299-A in subsection 1 in the 2nd line (page 1, line 15 in L.D.) by striking out the following: " assist with the" and inserting the following: ' be used solely for the marketing and'

Amend the bill in section 4 in §299-A in subsection 2 in the first line (page 1, line 21 in L.D.) by striking out the following: " may expend revenue or award grants from" and inserting the following: ' shall administer'

Amend the bill by inserting after section 4 the following:

‘Sec. 5. 8 MRSA §1037, first ¶, as amended by PL 2017, c. 231, §26, is further amended to read:

Beginning April 1, 2018 February 15, 2019 and annually thereafter, the executive director of the State Harness Racing Commission, in consultation with the Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, shall submit a report to the joint standing committees of the Legislature having jurisdiction over slot machines, harness racing, agricultural fairs and appropriations and financial affairs regarding the use of slot machine revenue deposited in funds under section 1036, subsection 2, paragraphs B, C, D, H and I. The executive director and the commissioner shall obtain the information as described in this section. The report required by this section must be completed using budgeted resources. The executive director may not distribute funds listed under section 1036, subsection 2, as applicable, to harness racing tracks, off-track betting facilities, agricultural fairs or the Sire Stakes Fund under section 281 until the information required to submit the report required by this section is provided. The report required by this section may be combined with the report required under section 267.’

Amend the bill by inserting after section 5 the following:

‘Sec. 6. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.

AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY, DEPARTMENT OF

Harness Racing Commission 0320

Initiative: Provides an ongoing allocation to the Harness Racing Promotional Fund, which is being moved from the Harness Racing Promotional Board to the State Harness Racing Commission.

OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 2017-18 2018-19

All Other
$0 $50,000

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OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL $0 $50,000

’

Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section number to read consecutively.

SUMMARY

This amendment, which is the unanimous report of the committee, requires that the funds in the Harness Racing Promotional Fund be used solely for the marketing and promotion of harness racing and requires the State Harness Racing Commission to invite input on the marketing and promotion of harness racing in this State from a statewide association of harness horsemen, a statewide association of Standardbred breeders, a statewide association of agricultural fairs and persons who are members of organizations representing the interests of commercial harness racing tracks and off-track betting facilities. It requires the State Harness Racing Commission, in its annual report, to include an account of the commission's operations and actions regarding the promotion of harness racing, a summary of income and expenses of the Harness Racing Promotional Fund, including any receipts and disbursements, and an assessment of the economic condition of the harness racing industry in this State. The amendment also changes the date of the annual report from April 1st in 2018 to February 15th beginning in 2019. It also adds an appropriations and allocations section.

FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED

(See attached)

HP1220 LD 1766	Session - 128th Maine Legislature C "A", Filing Number H-652, Sponsored by		LR 2633 Item 2
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OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS	2017-18	2018-19
All Other	$0	$50,000

OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL	$0	$50,000