Horse racing.

Existing law, the Horse Racing Law, provides for the operation of live horse racing in this state 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. Existing law provides that every steward and racing official shall be licensed and subject to both written and oral examinations, as specified. "Racing official" is defined to include official veterinarians. In general, a person who participates in a horse race without proper licensure is guilty of a misdemeanor. This bill would include outriders in the definition of racing officials thus requiring them to be licensed and examined, as specified. The bill would also provide that oral examinations for stewards shall be conducted by a panel of not less than 3 members of the board, while oral examinations for official veterinarians shall be conducted by a panel of not less than one member of the board, the equine medical director, and the executive director of the board. By expanding the scope of an existing crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Existing law requires that the total percentage deducted from wagers at satellite wagering facilities in the northern zone, and in the central and southern zones, be the same as deductions for wagers at the racetrack where the racing meeting is being conducted, and amounts deducted are to be distributed as specified. Existing law provides that, for thoroughbred meetings, 2.5% of the amount handled by the satellite wagering facility on conventional and exotic wagers, or the amount of actual operating expenses, as determined by the board, whichever is less, shall be distributed to a specified organization formed to operate the audiovisual signal system. This bill would instead require, for thoroughbred meetings from January 1, 2010, until December 31, 2013, an amount no less than in existing law, nor more than 4% of the amount handled by the satellite wagering facility on conventional and exotic wagers, to be distributed to that specified organization with the mutual consent of the racing association, horsemen's organization, and the board, as specified. The bill would require the distribution to revert on January 1, 2014, to that in existing law. Existing provisions of law continuously appropriate certain satellite wagering moneys from wagering on thoroughbred racing at the 22nd District Agricultural Association for supplementing purses at fair meetings in Los Angeles and Orange Counties, as specified. This bill would instead provide for the payment of that money to an unspecified racing fair in the County of Los Angeles for supplementing purses, as specified. Existing law requires, on July 1, 2009, and each July 1 thereafter, the transfer of $32,000,000 from the General Fund to be paid into the State Treasury to the credit of the separate account of the Fair and Exposition Fund created for satellite wagering revenues, and to continuously appropriate those moneys for allocation for the financial support of the network of California fairs. Existing law requires the first $1,100,000 of all funds for distribution as purses generated at satellite wagering facilities statewide from wagering on thoroughbred horse racing to be deposited in a special account in the Fair and Exposition Fund and continuously appropriated to the Department of Food and Agriculture for supplementing purses at fair meetings to achieve certain specified purposes. This bill would instead authorize the Secretary of Food and Agriculture to allocate up to $1,100,000 of those General Fund moneys to supplement purses at fair meetings to achieve those specified purposes. The bill would require the secretary to make these allocations part of the annual expenditure plan the secretary is required to submit to the Joint Committee on Fairs Allocation and Classification. Because this bill would authorize the expenditure of money from the continuously appropriated Fair and Exposition Fund for a new purpose, the bill would make an appropriation. 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.