Horse racing: out-of-country harness racing.

Under existing law, the California Horse Racing Board is authorized to permit a harness or quarter horse association conducting a horse race to accept wagers on the results of out-of-state, out-of-country, and other designated harness or quarter horse races, if specified conditions are met, including that the association conducts at least 7 live races and imports not more than 10 races on live racing days. A violation of the Horse Racing Law is a crime. This bill would also authorize wagering on a nightly program of out-of-country harness racing from a single racetrack, regardless of the number of those races, if specified conditions are met. By imposing new requirements under the Horse Racing Law, the violation of which would be a crime, the bill would create new crimes and would thereby create a state-mandated local program. Under existing law, revenues distributed to the state from horse racing are required to be deposited in the Fair and Exposition Fund and are continuously appropriated to the Secretary of Food and Agriculture for various regulatory and general governmental purposes. By providing for wagering on a nightly program of out-of-country harness racing, as provided, this bill would authorize additional wagering, and would increase the amount of continuously appropriated license fees, thereby making 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.