Thoroughbred Horseracing Integrity Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-3084
Sponsor: Rep. Barr, Andy [R-KY-6]
Introduced: 2015-07-16 in the House
Policy area: Sports and Recreation
Subjects: Animal protection and human-animal relationships
Athletes
Drug, alcohol, tobacco use
Gambling
Mammals
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Professional sports
Veterinary medicine and animal diseases

Summary:
action_date: 2015-07-16
text: 

Thoroughbred Horseracing Integrity Act of 2015

 
Establishes the Thoroughbred Horseracing Anti-Doping Authority as an independent organization with responsibility for developing and administering an anti-doping program for Thoroughbred horses (covered horses), the trainers, owners, veterinarians, and employees of such persons and other personnel who are engaged in the care, training, or racing of such horses (covered persons), and horseraces that involve only Thoroughbreds and that are the subject of interstate off-track wagers (covered horseraces). Grants the Authority exclusive jurisdiction for anti-doping matters over all covered horses, persons, and horseraces, effective January 1, 2017. 
 
Imposes the jurisdiction and authority of the Authority as conditions upon the privilege to accept, receive, or transmit wagers on, and to participate in, covered horseraces. Vests the Authority with the same powers over Thoroughbred horseracing licensees as the state racing commissions have.
 
Directs the Authority to develop and administer the Thoroughbred horseracing anti-doping program, which shall include:
 
 
 lists of permitted and prohibited substances and methods; 
 a schedule of sanctions for violations; 
 
 programs relating to anti-doping research and education; 
 
 testing procedures, standards, and protocols for in-competition and out-of-competition testing; 
 
 procedures for investigating, charging, and adjudicating violations and for the enforcement of sanctions for violations; and 
 
 laboratory standards for accreditation and testing requirements, procedures, and protocols. 
 
 
Conditions eligibility to participate in covered horseraces on covered persons agreeing that they and their covered horses shall be bound by the provisions of the program.
 
Directs the Authority to establish: (1) a list of anti-doping rule violations applicable to either horses or covered persons; (2) standards of accreditation for laboratories involved in the testing of samples taken from Thoroughbred horses, the process for achieving and maintaining accreditation, and the standards and protocols for testing of samples; (3) rules for anti-doping results management and the disciplinary process for anti-doping rule violations; and (4) uniform rules imposing sanctions against covered persons and/or covered horses for anti-doping rule violations. 
 
 Requires funds for the establishment and administration of the anti-doping program to be paid by the Thoroughbred horseracing industry.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-07-17
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade.
action_date: 2015-07-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
action_date: 2015-07-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-07-16
text: Introduced in House