230 ILCS 5/31 — Illinois Code / Chapter 230 / Act 5 / Section 31
Section 31
Status: in_force

(230 ILCS 5/31) (from Ch. 8, par. 37-31) Sec. 31. (a) The General Assembly declares that it is the policy of this State to encourage the breeding of standardbred horses in this State and the ownership of such horses by residents of this State in order to provide for: sufficient numbers of high quality standardbred horses to participate in harness racing meetings in this State, and to establish and preserve the agricultural and commercial benefits of such breeding and racing industries to the State of Illinois. It is the intent of the General Assembly to further this policy by the provisions of this Section of this Act. (b) Each organization licensee conducting a harness racing meeting pursuant to this Act shall provide for at least two races each race program limited to Illinois conceived and foaled horses. A minimum of 6 races shall be conducted each week limited to Illinois conceived and foaled horses. No horses shall be permitted to start in such races unless duly registered under the rules of the Department of Agriculture. (b-5) Organization licensees, not including the Illinois State Fair or the DuQuoin State Fair, shall provide stake races and early closer races for Illinois conceived and foaled horses so that purses distributed for such races shall be no less than 17% of total purses distributed for harness racing in that calendar year in addition to any stakes payments and starting fees contributed by horse owners. (b-10) Each organization licensee conducting a harness racing meeting pursuant to this Act shall provide an owner award to be paid from the purse account equal to 12% of the amount earned by Illinois conceived and foaled horses finishing in the first 3 positions in races that are not restricted to Illinois conceived and foaled horses. The owner awards shall not be paid on races below the $10,000 claiming class. (c) Conditions of races under subsection (b) shall be commensurate with past performance, quality, and class of Illinois conceived and foaled horses available. If, however, sufficient competition cannot be had among horses of that class on any day, the races may, with consent of the Board, be eliminated for that day and substitute races provided. (d) There is hereby created a special fund of the State treasury to be known as the Illinois Standardbred Breeders Fund. Beginning on June 28, 2019 (the effective date of Public Act 101-31), the Illinois Standardbred Breeders Fund shall become a non-appropriated trust fund held separate and apart from State moneys. Expenditures from this Fund shall no longer be subject to appropriation. During the calendar year 1981, and each year thereafter, except as provided in subsection (g) of Section 27 of this Act, eight and one-half per cent of all the monies received by the State as privilege taxes on harness racing meetings shall be paid into the Illinois Standardbred Breeders Fund. (e) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, amounts deposited into the Illinois Standardbred Breeders Fund from revenues generated by gaming pursuant to an organization gaming license issued under the Illinois Gambling Act after June 28, 2019 (the effective date of Public Act 101-31) shall be in addition to tax and fee amounts paid under this Section for calendar year 2019 and thereafter. The Illinois Standardbred Breeders Fund shall be administered by the Department of Agriculture with the assistance and advice of the Advisory Board created in subsection (f) of this Section. (f) The Illinois Standardbred Breeders Fund Advisory Board is hereby created. The Advisory Board shall consist of the Director of the Department of Agriculture, who shall serve as Chairman; the Superintendent of the Illinois State Fair; a member of the Illinois Racing Board, designated by it; a representative of the largest association of Illinois standardbred owners and breeders, recommended by it; a representative of a statewide association representing agricultural fairs in Illinois, recommended by it, such representative to be from a fair at which Illinois conceived and foaled racing is conducted; a representative of the organization licensees conducting harness racing meetings, recommended by them; a representative of the Breeder's Committee of the association representing the largest number of standardbred owners, breeders, trainers, caretakers, and drivers, recommended by it; and a representative of the association representing the largest number of standardbred owners, breeders, trainers, caretakers, and drivers, recommended by it. Advisory Board members shall serve for 2 years commencing January 1 of each odd numbered year. If representatives of the largest association of Illinois standardbred owners and breeders, a statewide association of agricultural fairs in Illinois, the association representing the largest number of standardbred owners, breeders, trainers, caretakers, and drivers, a member of the Breeder's Committee of the association representing the largest number of standardbred owners, breeders, trainers, caretakers, and drivers, and the organization licensees conducting harness racing meetings have not been recommended by January 1 of each odd numbered year, the Director of the Department of Agriculture shall make an appointment for the organization failing to so recommend a member of the Advisory Board. Advisory Board members shall receive no compensation for their services as members but shall be reimbursed for all actual and necessary expenses and disbursements incurred in the execution of their official duties. (g) Monies expended from the Illinois Standardbred Breeders Fund shall be expended by the Department of Agriculture, with the assistance and advice of the Illinois Standardbred Breeders Fund Advisory Board for the following purposes only: 1. To provide purses for races limited to Illinois conceived and foaled horses at the