An Act To
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 1022
Committee Amendment CA_A_H377 (House)
Amends: 8 MRSA §299

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT'" A" to H.P. 705, L.D. 
Protect the Future ofHamess Racing" 
1022, Bill, "An Act To 
Amend the bill by striking out all of section 3 and inserting the following: 
'Sec.3. 8 MRSA §299, sub-§§3 and 4 are enacted to reao: 
3. Track closure distribution. Notwithstanding subsection 2, if a commercial track 
ceases operation and is not immediately replaced by a commercial track in the same 
region that is owned by the same owner as the commercial track that ceased operation, all 
amounts credited to the fund established by this section must be disbursed to the 
remaining commercial tracks and to agricultural fair licensees ~hat conduct live racing 
based on days raced during extended meets up to a maximum of 100 days raced during 
extended meets per year and until such time as a new commercial track begins operation. 
The payment to a commerchtl track or agricultural fair is determined by dividing the 
amount in the fund by 150 and multiplying the result by the number of days raced by that 
commercial track or agricultural fair, An agricultUral fair must receive its paY.tne~t on 
May 30th before extended meets are held based on assigned dates for extended meets for 
that' agr'icu'ltUral fair. 
An adjustment must be made 'n~ i~te~ than th~ january 30th 
following the' extended meets that results i~ payment to an' agriculturai fair based on days 
a~tually raced during extended meets by that agricultUrat' fair', , Any amount remaining in 
the fund on January 30th after payments are made to comrll~rc{al track~ and agricultural 
fairs must be transferred to the operating account of the commission under section 267-A, 
For the purposes of this subsection, "region" is determined by measuring a distance of 50 
miles from the center of the racing track along the most commonly used roadway, as 
determined by the Department of Transportation, drawing a circle around the center of 
the racing track using that 50-mile measurement and excluding those municipalities or 
unorganized territories that do not have boundaries contained entirely by that circle, 
4. Natural disaster exception. If the commission determines that a commercial 
track is unable to conduct harness racing due to a natural disaster and that the commercial 
track licensee cannot immediately relocate to another venue, the commercial track 
licensee may be allowed up to 6 months to repair, rebuild or relocate at the discretion of 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" 0" to H.P. 705, L.D. 1022 
the commission and, if the commercial track licensee repairs, rebuilds or relocates within 
the time frame allowed, the commission may authorize the commercial track licensee to 
again receive distributions in acyordance with subsection 2. If the commercial track 
licensee is unable to repair, rebuild or relocate during this 6-month time frame due to 
circumstances that are detem1ined by the commission to be outside ~fth~ contr~l of the 
commercial track licensee, the commission may grant a reasonable extension b.eyond 6 
months. During any time that is granted by the commission under this subsection to the 
~0l11l11ercial track licensee in order to repair, rebuild or relo~ate, 'the distribution forl11lila 
established under subsection 3 must be in effect.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment adds a process whereby, in the event of a natural disaster, a 
commercial track may repair, rebuild or relocate at the discretion of the State Harness 
Racing Commission. During any time that is granted by the commission to a commercial 
track to repair, rebuild or relocate, the distribution formula provided in the bill for the 
distribution of funds' from the Fund to Encourage Racing at Maine's Commercial Tracks 
in the event of a track closure applies. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 06/08/15 
~ac 
LD 1022 
LR 1321(02) 
An Act To Protect the Future of Harness Racing 
Fiscal Note fOI" Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment '~' CH ~'J1~ 
Committee: Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry 
, 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Potential current biennium revenue decrease - General Fund 
Contingent current biennium revenue decrease - Other Special Revenue Funds 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Under current law, 4% of the net slot machine income from Hollywood Casino is directed to the Fund to Encourage 
Racing at Maine's Commercial Tracks (Racing Fund), but this 4% of net slot income is directed to the General Fund if 
all commercial tracks obtain a license to operate slot machines. As this contingency has not been met, the 4% has 
never gone to the General Fund. This bill requires that 4% of net slot machine income continue to go to the Racing 
Fund regardless of whether or not all commercial tracks obtain licenses to operate slot machines. In fiscal year 2013-
14, the Racing Fund received $1,663,283 from Hollywood Casino's 4% of net slot machine income. 
The bill requires all funds within the Racing Fund be disbursed to certain commercial tracks and agricultural fairs if a 
commercial track ceases operation and is not immediately replaced by a commercial track in the same region that is 
owned by the same owner as the commercial track ceasing operations. There is currently $150,652 within the Racing 
Fund. Any amount remaining in the Racing Fund on January 30th of each year after payments are made to commercial 
tracks and agricultural fairs must be transferred to the Harness Racing Commission's operating account. 
LR1321 (02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 ofl