Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 0704
Committee Amendment CA_A_H397 (House)
Amends: 8 MRSA §263-B, 8 MRSA §270, 8 MRSA §279-D

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "Ii" 
Relating to Harness Racing 
to H.P. 
Laws" 
521, L.D. 704, Bill, "An 
Amend the bill by inserting after the title and before the 
enacting clause the following: 
'Emergency preamble. Whereas, Acts of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted 
as emergencies; and 
Whereas, the harness racing season is already underway for 
2003; and 
Whereas, what constitutes 
a 
"commercial 
track" 
and what 
constitutes 
a 
"market 
area" 
for 
commercial 
racetracks 
and 
off-track betting facilities need to be clarified; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts 
create an emergency wi thin the meaning of the Constitution of 
Maine 
and 
require 
the 
following 
legislation 
as 
immediately 
necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and 
safety: now, therefore,' 
Further amend the bill by striking out all of section 1 and 
inserting in its place the following: 
'Sec. 1. 8 MRSA §263-B, sub-§§2 and 3, as enacted by PL 1997, 
c. 528, §6, are amended to read: 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
fL"$. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ,,f},, to H. P. 521, L.D. 704 
2. 
Leadership 
in policy 
making. 
The 
department, 
in 
conjunction 
with 
the 
commission, 
shall 
~a*e--~~--~--iB 
seve~epiB§ develop state policy with regard to the harness racing 
industry and shall address the needs of the industry to remain 
competitive. 
3. 
Review of statutes. 
The department, in conjunction with 
the commission, shall maintain an ongoing review of the statutes 
aBs-£Qles relating to harness racing and make recommendations to 
the GovernorT and the Legislature aBs--t-he--eeHURissieB regarding 
the 
need for 
changes 
in statutes 
aBS--FQ~eS to 
improve 
the 
condi tion of the harness racing industry and the conduct and 
regulation of harness racing and off-track betting. ' 
Further amend the bill by striking out all of section 5 and 
inserting in its place the following: 
'Sec. 5. 8 MRSA §270, first~, as amended by PL 2001, c. 567, 
§2, is further amended to read: 
Any person, association or corporation licensed to conduct 
pari-mutuel betting desiring to hold a harness horse race or meet 
for public exhibition if pari-mutuel betting is permitted shall 
apply to the commission for a license to do so. The application 
must be signed and sworn to by the person or executive officer of 
the association or corporation and must contain the following 
information: ' 
Further amend the bill in section 9 in paragraph A in the 
8th line (page 3, line 34 in L.D.) by striking out the following 
"track." and insarting in its place the following: 
'~' and 
in the 9th line (page 3, line 35 in L.D.) by inserting after the 
following: 
"operation" the following: 
'L' 
Further amend the bill in section 11 in subsection 3 in the 
last 2 lines (page 4, lines 44 and 45 in L.D.) by striking out 
the 
following: 
"and 
excluding 
those 
municipalities 
or 
unorganized territories that do not have boundaries contained 
entirely by that circle" 
Further amend the bill in section 12 in subsection 4 in the 
last 2 lines (page 5, lines 25 and 26 in L.D.) by striking out 
the 
following: 
"and 
excluding 
those 
municipalities 
or 
unorganized territories that do not have boundaries contained 
entirely by that circle" 
Further amend the bill by striking out all of section 14 and 
inserting in its place the following: 
'Sec. 14. 8 MRSA §279-D is enacted to read: 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
l &t\$ 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT .. ~ 
.. to H.P. 521, L.D. 704 
§279-D. 
Insurance 
Beginning January I. 2004. applicants for an owner's license 
must provide proof of liability insurance on horses owned by the 
applicant in an amount not less than $300.000. 
Copies of that 
liability insurance coverage must accompany the application for 
an owner's license.' 
Further amend the bill by inserting after section 15 the 
following: 
'Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the 
preamble, this Act takes effect when approved.' 
SUMMARY 
This 
amendment 
adds 
an emergency preamble 
and emergency 
clause to the bill and clarifies language regarding the role of 
the Harness Racing Commission in policy making and review of 
statutes governing the harness racing industry. 
It amends the 
bill 
by 
requ1r1ng that 
horsepersons 
pay 
up 
to 
1/2% 
of 
supplemental purse money to an association of horsepersons. 
It 
also clarifies language that determines the market area for 
commercial 
racetracks 
and off-track betting facilities. 
The 
amendment also makes the requirement for horse owners liability 
insurance effective January 1, 2004. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT