An Act To Amend the Laws Concerning Reciprocal Disciplinary Actions in Harness Racing and Pulling Events
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 0622
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
Sponsors: CRAY, JACKSON, BLACK, DILL, GIFFORD, HARVELL, MAREAN, TIMBERLAKE, SHERMAN
Amends: 7 MRSA §102, 8 MRSA §283

Legislative Document 
No. 622 
H.P. 441 
House of Representatives, February 21, 2013 
An Act To Amend the Laws Concerning Reciprocal Disciplinary 
Actions in Harness Racing and Pulling Events 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reference to the Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry suggested and 
ordered printed. 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative CRAY of Palmyra. 
Cosponsored by Senator JACKSON of Aroostook and 
Representatives: BLACK of Wilton, DILL of Old Town, GIFFORD of Lincoln, HARVELL of 
Farmington, MAREAN of Hollis, TIMBERLAKE of Turner, Senator: SHERMAN of 
Aroostook. 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, the harness racing season begins in late March and the fair season takes 
place beginning in the summer months and will likely commence before 90 days after 
adjournment; and 
Whereas, the provisions of this bill are important to protect the integrity of the 
harness racing and pulling events in the State; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
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, 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  7 MRSA §102 is enacted to read: 
§102.  Reciprocal disciplinary action 
The department shall obtain current listings from other jurisdictions of persons who 
have been suspended or barred from pulling competitions.  The department shall refuse to 
allow any person who has been suspended or barred from pulling competitions in another 
jurisdiction to compete in any pulling competition until the department receives 
notification from the jurisdiction that has suspended or barred the person from pulling 
competitions that the person is again eligible to compete in pulling competitions in that 
jurisdiction. 
Sec. 2.  8 MRSA §283, as amended by PL 2003, c. 401, §16, is further amended to 
read: 
§283.  Reciprocal disciplinary action 
The department shall act to obtain current listings from other racing jurisdictions of 
persons in harness racing occupations regulated by the racing jurisdiction commission 
who have been refused a license or who have had their license revoked or suspended.  
The commission shall refuse to license or shall suspend the license of these persons any 
person who has been refused a license or who has had that person's license revoked or 
suspended in another jurisdiction until notification from the jurisdiction that refused to 
license or suspended or revoked the license of the person that they are the person is again 
eligible for licensing in the racing that jurisdiction or racing jurisdictions in question. 
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This bill requires the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to obtain 
current listings from other jurisdictions of people who have been suspended or barred 
from agricultural pulling competitions and requires the department to suspend or bar from 
pulling competitions any person in those listings until the department receives 
notification from the jurisdiction that suspended or barred the person that the person is no 
longer suspended or barred.  This bill also amends the reciprocal disciplinary action 
provision in harness racing for people in the harness racing industry who have been 
refused a license or have had their licenses suspended or revoked in another jurisdiction 
by clarifying certain language in that provision.