reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 128a - Horse and Dog Racing Meetings › Section 8a - Periodic Inspections of Installations and Facilities Operated by Licensees; Supervision of Stewards, Judges and Starters

[ Text of section effective until December 15, 2025. Repealed by 2011, 194, Sec. 39. See 2011, 194, Sec. 112 as amended by 2014, 165, Sec. 192; 2016, 176, Sec. 12B; 2107, 56, Sec. 14; 2018, 159, Sec. 14; 2019, 47, Sec. 14; 2020, 1, Sec. 14; 2020, 106, Sec. 14; 2021, 27, Sec. 14; 2022, 128, Sec. 14; and 2023, 26, Sec. 20.]
Section 8A. The commission shall make periodic inspections of all of the installations and facilities operated by its licensees, including stable areas and the office of the racing secretary during the time that entries are being filed. Each member shall from time to time personally visit the jockeys' room to observe the activity of the custodians and valets, and the operation of the clerk of the scales, weighing procedures and security provisions. The activities of stewards, placing judges, patrol judges and starters shall be closely supervised by said commission and the calculating and tote control room of the various tracks shall be regularly spot-checked to insure fair and equitable results for the wagering public.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 128a - Horse and Dog Racing Meetings › Section 9 - Power of Commission to Make Rules and Regulations

[ Text of section effective until December 15, 2025. Repealed by 2011, 194, Sec. 39. See 2011, 194, Sec. 112 as amended by 2014, 165, Sec. 192; 2016, 176, Sec. 12B; 2017, 56, Sec. 14; 2018, 159, Sec. 14; 2019, 47, Sec. 14; 2020, 1, Sec. 14; 2020, 106, Sec. 14; 2021, 27, Sec. 14; 2022, 128, Sec. 14; and 2023, 26, Sec. 20.]
Section 9. The commission shall have full power to prescribe rules, regulations and conditions under which all horse or dog races at horse or dog racing meetings shall be conducted in the commonwealth and may by rule or regulation prohibit licensees from admitting minors to dog or horse racing meetings.
The commission shall have power to prescribe special rules, regulations and conditions applicable to horse and dog racing meetings held under licenses granted hereunder in connection with a state or county fair, or any exhibition for the encouragement or extension of agriculture.
The commission shall prescribe rules and regulations under which dog race track licensees shall be required to provide access to schooling races and participation in pari-mutuel dog races conducted by said licensees for Massachusetts bred greyhounds.
[ Fourth paragraph effective until December 15, 2025. See 2001, 139, Sec. 45 as amended by 2005, 176, Sec. 13; 2006, 54, Sec. 12; 2006, 449, Secs. 19 and 21; 2008, 290, Sec. 12; 2009, 167, Sec. 12; 2010, 203, Sec. 12; 2011, 77, Sec. 12; 2011, 194, Sec. 84; 2014, 264, Sec. 11; 2016, 176, Sec. 11; 2017, 56, Sec. 11; 2018, 159, Sec. 11; 2019, 47, Sec. 11; 2020, 1, Sec. 11; 2020, 106, Sec. 11; 2021, 27, Sec. 11; 2022, 128, Sec. 11; and 2023, 26, Sec. 17.]
The commission shall prescribe rules and regulations under which betting accounts for account wagering, as provided in section 5C, shall be established, maintained and operated.
Rules and regulations so prescribed shall be printed by the commission and furnished in reasonable numbers to any one who may request them.
Any person violating any such rule or regulation shall, upon a complaint brought by the commission, be punished by a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars or by imprisonment not exceeding one year, or by both.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 128a - Horse and Dog Racing Meetings › Section 9b - Rules and Regulations of the Commission; Emergency Rules and Regulations

[ Text of section effective until December 15, 2025. Repealed by 2011, 194, Sec. 39. See 2011, 194, Sec. 112 as amended by 2014, 165, Sec. 192; 2016, 176, Sec. 12B; 2017, 56, Sec. 14; 2018, 159, Sec. 14; 2019, 47, Sec. 14; 2020, 1, Sec. 14; 2020, 106, Sec. 14; 2021, 27, Sec. 14; 2022, 128, Sec. 14; and 2023, 26, Sec. 20.]
Section 9B. Notwithstanding the provisions of section five of chapter thirty A, no rule, regulation or condition of the commission promulgated pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall take effect except as hereinafter provided.
A copy of every such rule, regulation or condition shall be filed with the clerk of the senate and shall be forthwith referred by him to the joint committee on government regulations.
Said committee shall file a written report with the clerk of the senate within thirty days after the filing of the copy thereof with said clerk, stating whether said rules, regulations and conditions are consistent with the statutory provisions under which they were promulgated.
Said rules, regulations and conditions shall take effect unless disapproved by a majority vote of both branches of the general court within sixty days after the filing of the copy thereof with the clerk of the senate unless the general court has prorogued within said sixty days.
If the general court prorogues within sixty days of the filing, with the clerk of the senate of such rules, regulations and conditions, the clerk of the senate shall refer the same to the committee on government regulations the next session of the general court.
Said committee shall report as hereinbefore provided within thirty days of the first day of such session and such rules, regulations and conditions shall take effect unless disapproved by a majority vote of both branches of the general court within sixty days of the first day of such session.
The clerk of the senate shall notify the commission of the action taken thereon by the general court.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, the commission may adopt emergency rules or regulations to protect the health or safety of the public, participants, or animals; provided, however, that no emergency rule or regulation shall attempt to regulate the dates, manner of wagering, or economic terms or conditions of horse and dog racing within the commonwealth; and provided, further, that such emergency rules and regulations shall expire within ninety days.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 128a - Horse and Dog Racing Meetings › Section 10 - Wagering at Racing Meetings by Minors; Citizenship Requirement for Employees of Licensees

[ Text of section effective until December 15, 2025. Repealed by 2011, 194, Sec. 39. See 2011, 194, Sec. 112 as amended by 2014, 165, Sec. 192; 2016, 176, Sec. 12B; 2017, 56, Sec. 14; 2018, 159, Sec. 14; 2019, 47, Sec. 14; 2020, 1, Sec. 14; 2020, 106, Sec. 14; 2021, 27, Sec. 14; 2022, 128, Sec. 14; and 2023, 26. Sec. 20.]
Section 10. Any licensee permitting any minor to participate in the pari-mutuel or certificate system of wagering at a racing meeting held or conducted by such licensee shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars. At least eighty-five per cent of the persons employed by a licensee at a racing meeting held or conducted by him shall be citizens of the commonwealth and shall have been such citizens for at least two years immediately prior to such employment.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 128a - Horse and Dog Racing Meetings › Section 10a - Exclusion of Certain Persons

[ Text of section effective until December 15, 2025. Repealed by 2011, 194, Sec. 39. See 2011, 194, Sec. 112 as amended by 2014, 165, Sec. 192; 2016, 176, Sec. 12B; 2017, 56, Sec. 14; 2018, 159, Sec. 14; 2019, 47, Sec. 14; 2020, 1, Sec. 14; 2020, 106, Sec. 14; 2021, 27, Sec. 14; 2022, 128, Sec. 14; and 2023, 26, Sec. 20.]
Section 10A. Any commissioner or representative of the commission or any person licensed to conduct a horse or dog racing meeting, including racing meetings conducted in connection with state or county fairs, shall have the right to refuse admission to or eject from its premises any person whose presence on said premises is detrimental, in the sole judgment of the commissioner or representative of the commission or of said licensee, to the proper and orderly conduct of a racing meeting. Any person who has been notified by any commissioner or representative of the commission or a licensee of a racing meeting not to enter or attempt to enter its premises and who thereafter, without the express approval of any commissioner or representative of the commission or the licensee, enters or attempts to enter such premises while a racing meeting is being conducted therein, shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment for not more than six months, or both. Any person so excluded by any commissioner or representative of the commission or by a licensee shall have a right of appeal to the commission. The commission shall hold a hearing within ten days after any such person requests an appeal and may after such hearing by vote allow such person admission to such meeting.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 128a - Horse and Dog Racing Meetings › Section 10b - Falsely Making, Altering, Forging, Uttering or Publishing Pari-Mutuel Betting Tickets

[ Text of section effective until December 15, 2025. Repealed by 2011, 194, Sec. 39. See 2011, 194, Sec. 112 as amended by 2014, 165, Sec. 192; 2016, 176, Sec. 12B; 2017, 56, Sec. 14; 2018, 159, Sec. 14; 2019, 47, Sec. 14; 2020, 1, Sec. 14; 2020, 106, Sec. 14; 2021, 27, Sec. 14; 2022, 128, Sec. 14; and 2023, 26, Sec. 20.]
Section 10B. Whoever, with intent to defraud, falsely makes, alters or forges a pari-mutuel betting ticket issued under the provisions of section five, or whoever, with intent to defraud, utters and publishes as true a false, forged or altered pari-mutuel betting ticket issued under the provisions of said section five, knowing the same to be false, forged or altered, shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than five years or in a jail for not more than two years.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 128a - Horse and Dog Racing Meetings › Section 11 - Refusal to Grant, Suspension or Revocation of License

[ Text of section effective until December 15, 2025. Repealed by 2011, 194, Sec. 39. See 2011, 194, Sec. 112 as amended by 2014, 165, Sec. 192; 2016, 176, Sec. 12B; 2017, 56, Sec. 14; 2018, 159, Sec. 14; 2019, 47, Sec. 14; 2020, 1, Sec. 14; 2020, 106, Sec. 14; 2021, 27, Sec. 14; 2022, 128, Sec. 14; and 2023, 26, Sec. 20.]
Section 11. The commission shall have full discretion to refuse to grant a license to any applicant for a license or to suspend or revoke the license of any licensee. If any license is suspended or revoked, the commission shall make a record of its reasons for doing so and such record shall be made available to any person requesting to inspect the same.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 128a - Horse and Dog Racing Meetings › Section 11c - Sale of Ten per Cent or More of Stock; Notice; Approval

[ Text of section effective until December 15, 2025. Repealed by 2011, 194, Sec. 39. See 2011, 194, Sec. 112 as amended by 2014, 165, Sec. 192; 2016, 176, Sec. 12B; 2017, 56, Sec. 14; 2018, 159, Sec. 14; 2019, 47, Sec. 14; 2020, 1, Sec. 14; 2020, 106, Sec. 14; 2021, 27, Sec. 14; 2022, 128, Sec. 14; and 2023, 26, Sec. 20.]
Section 11C. Except in the case of a publicly held corporation, no person, firm, partnership, trust, association or corporation who has been granted a license to conduct a horse or dog racing meeting, or an officer, director or the beneficial owner of ten per cent or more of the stock of a corporation holding such a license, shall sell, transfer, convey or cause to be transferred, singly or in concert with others, more than ten per cent of the value or stock of the facility or corporation so licensed without first obtaining the written approval of the commission.
The commission shall approve such sale, transfer or conveyance unless it finds that the consideration therefor is (i) inadequate or (ii) without good cause, (iii) that the sale or transfer results in an undesirable concentration of ownership of racing facilities within the commonwealth, or (iv) that the sale or transfer has an adverse impact upon the integrity of the racing industry. A publicly held corporation, shall, prior to the sale, transfer or conveyance of more than ten per cent of the stock of the corporation, file notice of such action with the commission. A copy of any filing required by state or federal securities law regarding notice of such sale, transfer or conveyance shall be simultaneously filed with the commission. The commission shall have the same rights as to transferees as it would have with respect to original applicants for licensure.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 128a - Horse and Dog Racing Meetings › Section 12 - Compliance With Chapter

[ Text of section effective until December 15, 2025. Repealed by 2011, 194, Sec. 39. See 2011, 194, Sec. 112 as amended by 2014, 165, Sec. 192; 2016, 176, Sec. 12B; 2017, 56, Sec. 14; 2018, 159, Sec. 14; 2019, 47, Sec. 14; 2020, 1, Sec. 14; 2020, 106, Sec. 14; 2021, 27, Sec. 14; 2022, 128, Sec. 14; and 2023, 26, Sec. 20.]
Section 12. No person shall hold or conduct, or assist, aid or abet in holding or conducting, any horse or dog racing meeting within the commonwealth unless such person shall comply with the provisions of this chapter.
Any person holding or conducting or any person aiding or abetting in holding or conducting, any horse or dog racing meeting within the commonwealth in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter shall, unless some other penalty for such violation is provided in this chapter, be punished for each such offence by a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or both. For the purpose of this section, each day on which any horse or dog racing meeting shall be held or conducted in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter shall be considered a separate and distinct offence.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 128a - Horse and Dog Racing Meetings › Section 13 - Penalties for Wagering or Betting at Race Track Except as Permitted by Chapter

[ Text of section effective until December 15, 2025. Repealed by 2011, 194, Sec. 39. See 2011, 194, Sec. 112 as amended by 2014, 165, Sec. 192; 2016, 176, Sec. 12B; 2017, 56, Sec. 14; 2018, 159, Sec. 14; 2019, 47, Sec. 14; 2020, 1, Sec. 14; 2020, 106, Sec. 14; 2021, 27, Sec. 14; 2022, 128, Sec. 14; and 2023, 26, Sec. 20.]
Section 13. Any person making a handbook, at any race track within the commonwealth, or holding or conducting a gambling pool or managing any other type of wagering or betting on the results of any horse or dog race, or aiding or abetting any of the foregoing types of wagering or betting, except as permitted by this chapter, shall for a first offence be punished by a fine of not more than two thousand dollars and imprisonment for not more than one year, and for a subsequent offence by a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars and imprisonment for not more than two years. Any jockey, trainer or owner of horses participating in horse or dog racing, if found guilty by the commission of unfair riding or crooked tactics, may be barred or suspended from further participation in racing throughout the commonwealth.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 128a - Horse and Dog Racing Meetings › Section 13b - Use of Drugs to Affect Speed of Dogs or Horses

[ Text of section effective until December 15, 2025. Repealed by 2011, 194, Sec. 39. See 2011, 194, Sec. 112 as amended by 2014, 165, Sec. 192; 2016, 176, Sec. 12B; 2017, 56, Sec. 14; 2018, 159, Sec. 14; 2019, 47, Sec. 14; 2020, 1, Sec. 14; 2020, 106, Sec. 14; 2021, 27, Sec. 14; 2022, 128, Sec. 14; and 2023, 26, Sec. 20.]
Section 13B. No person shall administer or cause to be administered any drug, internally or externally by injection, drench or otherwise, to any horse or dog for the purpose of retarding, stimulating or in any other manner affecting the speed of such horse or dog in or in connection with a race conducted under the provisions of this chapter. Whoever violates this section shall be punished by a fine of five thousand dollars or by imprisonment for one year, or both.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 128a - Horse and Dog Racing Meetings › Section 13c - Influencing Owner, Trainer, Jockey or Agent to Affect Result of Race

[ Text of section effective until December 15, 2025. Repealed by 2011, 194, Sec. 39. See 2011, 194, Sec. 112 as amended by 2014, 165, Sec. 192; 2016, 176, Sec. 12B; 2017, 56, Sec. 14; 2018, 159, Sec. 14; 2019, 47, Sec. 14; 2020, 1, Sec. 14; 2020, 106, Sec. 14; 2021, 27, Sec. 14; 2022, 128, Sec. 14; and 2023, 26, Sec. 20.]
Section 13C. No person shall influence, induce or conspire or connive with, or attempt so to do, any owner, trainer, jockey, agent, driver, groom or other person associated with or interested in or having charge of or access to any horse or dog entered or to be entered in a race for the purpose of fraudulently affecting the ultimate result of such race. Whoever violates this section shall be punished by a fine of not less than one hundred nor more than three thousand dollars or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or both.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 128a - Horse and Dog Racing Meetings › Section 14 - Granting Licenses; Petitions; Ballots; Vote of County

[ Text of section effective until December 15, 2025. Repealed by 2011, 194, Sec. 39. See 2011, 194, Sec. 112 as amended by 2014, 165, Sec. 192; 2016, 176, Sec. 12B; 2017, 56, Sec. 14; 2018, 159, Sec. 14; 2019, 47, Sec. 14; 2020, 1, Sec. 14; 2020, 106, Sec. 14; 2021, 27, Sec. 14; 2022, 128, Sec. 14; and 2023, 26, Sec. 20.]
Section 14. Licenses shall not be granted under this chapter for the holding or conducting of any horse racing meeting or any dog racing meeting within any county unless a majority of the registered voters of such county voting on the following described questions relative to granting such licenses when said questions were last submitted to them have voted in the affirmative.
The state secretary shall, if there has been filed with said secretary, not later than the sixtieth day before the biennial state election at which such subdivision is to be submitted, petitions, the forms of which may be obtained from said secretary, signed by registered voters of such county, the total of which are equal in number to at least ten per cent of the total number of registered voters in said county, cause to be placed on the official ballot to be used in the cities and towns at biennial state elections, commencing in the year nineteen hundred and seventy-eight, the following subdivided questions:
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A. Shall the pari-mutuel system of betting on licensed : YES. : :
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horse races be permitted in this county? : NO. : :
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B. Shall the pari-mutuel system of betting on licensed : YES. : :
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dog races be permitted in this county? : NO. : :
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If a majority of the votes cast in a county in answer to subdivision A is in the affirmative, such county shall be taken to have authorized the licensing of horse races therein at which the pari-mutuel system of betting shall be permitted.
If a majority of the votes cast in a county in answer to subdivision B is in the affirmative, such county shall be taken to have authorized the licensing of dog races therein at which the pari-mutuel system of betting shall be permitted.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 128a - Horse and Dog Racing Meetings › Section 14b - Additional Question on Ballots in Berkshire County

[ Text of section effective until December 15, 2025. Repealed by 2011, 194, Sec. 39. See 2011, 194, Sec. 112 as amended by 2014, 165, Sec. 192; 2016, 176, Sec. 12B; 2017, 56, Sec. 14; 2018, 159, Sec. 14; 2019, 47, Sec. 14; 2020, 1, Sec. 14; 2020, 106, Sec. 14; 2021, 27, Sec. 14; 2022, 128, Sec. 14; and 2023, 26, Sec. 20.]
Section 14B. Except as hereinafter provided, the state secretary shall, in addition to subdivisions A and B of the subdivided question provided for in section fourteen, cause to be placed on the official ballot to be used in the cities and towns of Berkshire county at the biennial state election in the year nineteen hundred and fifty-four, and every fourth year thereafter, the following subdivided question:--
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C. Shall the pari-mutuel system of betting on licensed : YES. : :
----------------
horse races at county fairs be permitted in this county? : NO. : :
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If a majority of the votes cast in Berkshire county in answer to subdivision C are in the affirmative, said county shall be taken to have authorized the licensing of horse races at county fairs therein at which the pari-mutuel system of betting shall be permitted.
The state secretary shall not cause the foregoing question to be placed on the ballot at any biennial state election if the voters in said county in response to said question have voted in the affirmative four consecutive times or in the negative four consecutive times, unless there has been filed with said secretary not later than the sixtieth day before the election at which the question is to be submitted, petitions, the forms of which may be obtained from said secretary, signed by registered voters of said county the total of which are equal in number to at least ten per cent of the total number of registered voters in said county. Such petitions shall be subject to the provisions of chapter fifty-three relative to initiative petitions.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 128a - Horse and Dog Racing Meetings › Section 14c - Additional Question on Ballots in Hampshire County

[ Text of section effective until December 15, 2025. Repealed by 2011, 194, Sec. 39. See 2011, 194, Sec. 112 as amended by 2014, 165, Sec. 192; 2016, 176, Sec. 12B; 2017, 56, Sec. 14; 2018, 159, Sec. 14; 2019, 47, Sec. 14; 2020, 1, Sec. 14; 2020, 106, Sec. 14; 2021, 27, Sec. 14; 2022, 128, Sec. 14; and 2023, 26, Sec. 20.]
Section 14C. Except as hereinafter provided, the state secretary shall, in addition to subdivisions A and B of the subdivided question provided for in section fourteen, cause to be placed on the official ballot to be used in the cities and towns of Hampshire county at the biennial state election in the year nineteen hundred and fifty-eight and every fourth year thereafter, the following subdivided question:--
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C. Shall the pari-mutuel system of betting on licensed : YES. : :
----------------
horse races at county fairs be permitted in this county? : NO. : :
----------------
If a majority of the votes cast in Hampshire county in answer to subdivision C are in the affirmative, said county shall be taken to have authorized the licensing of horse races at county fairs therein at which the pari-mutuel system of betting shall be permitted.
The state secretary shall not cause the foregoing question to be placed on the ballot at any biennial state election if the voters in said county in response to said question have voted in the affirmative four consecutive times or in the negative four consecutive times, unless there has been filed with said secretary not later than the sixtieth day before the election at which the question is to be submitted, petitions, the forms of which may be obtained from said secretary, signed by registered voters of said county the total of which are equal in number to at least ten per cent of the total number of registered voters in said county. Such petitions shall be subject to the provisions of chapter fifty-three relative to initiative petitions.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 128a - Horse and Dog Racing Meetings › Section 14d - Granting Licenses; Election Results; Copy

[ Text of section effective until December 15, 2025. Repealed by 2011, 194, Sec. 39. See 2011, 194, Sec. 112 as amended by 2014, 165, Sec. 192; 2016, 176, Sec. 12B; 2017, 56, Sec. 14; 2018, 159, Sec. 14; 2019, 47, Sec. 14; 2020, 1, Sec. 14; 2020, 106, Sec. 14; 2021, 27, Sec. 14; 2022, 128, Sec. 14; and 2023, 26, Sec. 20.]
Section 14D. A certified copy of the results of a vote on a question submitted to the voters of a political subdivision, in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, relative to granting a license for a horse or dog racing meeting or horse or dog races at fairs, shall be sent by the state secretary, or by the city or town clerk in the case of a vote by a city or town, to the commission, within ninety days after the election.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 128a - Horse and Dog Racing Meetings › Section 14e - Dog Racing Prohibited; Penalty

[ Text of section effective until December 15, 2025. Repealed by 2011, 194, Sec. 39. See 2011, 194, Sec. 112 as amended by 2014, 165, Sec. 192; 2016, 176, Sec. 12B; 2017, 56, Sec. 14; 2018, 159, Sec. 14; 2019, 47, Sec. 14; 2020, 1, Sec. 14; 2020, 106, Sec. 14; 2021, 27, Sec. 14; 2022, 128, Sec. 14; and 2023, 26, Sec. 20.]
Section 14E. Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter or any general or special law to the contrary, no dog racing or racing meeting where any form of betting or wagering on the speed or ability of dogs occurs shall be conducted or permitted in this commonwealth and the commission is hereby prohibited from accepting or approving any application or request for racing dates for dog racing.
Any person violating any provision of this section relative to dog racing shall be subject to a civil penalty of not less than twenty thousand dollars which shall be payable to the commission and used for administrative purposes of the commission subject to appropriation.
All other provisions of this Chapter shall be construed as if they contain no references to dogs, dog racing or dog races.
Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the effective date of this section shall be January 1, 2010.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 128c - Simulcast Wagering of Horse and Dog Racing › Section 3 - Commingling of Pari-Mutuel Pools; Rules

[ Text of section effective until December 15, 2025. Repealed by 2011, 194, Sec. 41. See 2011, 194, Sec. 112 as amended by 2014, 165, Sec. 192; 2016, 176, Sec. 12B; 2017, 56, Sec. 14; 2018, 159, Sec. 14; 2019, 47, Sec. 14; 2020, 1, Sec. 14; 2020, 106, Sec. 14; 2021, 27, Sec. 14; 2022, 128, Sec. 14; and 2023, 26, Sec. 20. Expiration of section does not take effect. See 1992, 101, Sec. 13 as amended by 1995, 268, Sec. 20; 1999, 163, Sec. 12; 2000, 354, Sec. 14; 2001, 25, Sec. 1; 2001, 54, Sec. 4; 2001, 70, Sec. 4; 2001, 95, Sec. 4; 2001, 108, Sec. 4; 2001, 121, Sec. 4; 2001, 139, Sec. 39; 2005, 176, Sec. 12; 2006, 54, Sec. 11; 2006, 449, Secs. 18 and 21; 2008, 290, Sec. 11; 2009, 167, Sec. 11; 2010, 203, Sec. 11 and 2011, 77, Sec. 11 and as repealed by 2011, 194, Sec. 83.]
Section 3. All wagers on simulcast races accepted by a racing meeting licensee within the commonwealth or by a pari-mutuel licensee in another jurisdiction when such licensee is operating as a guest track shall be included in the pari-mutuel pool of the racing meeting licensee which conducts the live race, unless the commission approves a different procedure.
The commission shall promulgate rules as are necessary to facilitate the commingling of pari-mutuel pools, to ensure the proper calculations and distributions of payments and takeouts on such wagers and to regulate the distribution of net proceeds as provided in this chapter.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 128c - Simulcast Wagering of Horse and Dog Racing › Section 3a - Unclaimed Simulcast Wagers; Separate Account Under Commission's Control

[ Text of section effective until December 15, 2025. Repealed by 2011, 194, Sec. 41. See 2011, 194, Sec. 112 as amended by 2014, 165, Sec. 192; 2016, 176, Sec. 12B; 2017, 56, Sec. 14; 2018, 159, Sec. 14; 2019, 47, Sec. 14; 2020, 1, Sec. 14; 2020, 106, Sec. 14; 2021, 27, Sec. 14; 2022, 128, Sec. 14; and 2023, 26, Sec. 20. See, also, 2001, 139, Sec. 45 as amended by 2005, 176, Sec. 13; 2006, 54, Sec. 12; 2006, 449, Secs. 19 and 21; 2008, 290, Sec. 12; 2009, 167, Sec. 12; 2010, 203, Sec. 12; 2011, 77, Sec. 12; 2011, 194, Sec. 84; 2014, 264, Sec. 11; 2016, 176, Sec. 11; 2017, 56, Sec. 11; 2018, 159, Sec. 11; 2019, 47, Sec. 11; 2020, 1, Sec. 11; 2020, 106, Sec. 11; 2021, 27, Sec. 11; 2022, 128, Sec. 11; and 2023, 26, Sec. 17. Expiration of section does not take effect. See 1992, 101, Sec. 13 as amended by 2001, 139, Sec. 39; 2005, 176, Sec. 12; 2006, 54, Sec. 11; 2006, 449, Secs. 18 and 21; 2008, 290, Sec. 11; 2009, 167, Sec. 11; 2010, 203, Sec. 11 and 2011, 77, Sec. 11 and as repealed by 2011, 194, Sec. 83.]
Section 3A. The unclaimed simulcast wagers collected by the running horse racing meeting licensee, the harness horse racing meeting licensee and the greyhound racing meeting licensees shall be deposited in a separate account under the control and supervision of the commission for payment to the purse accounts of the licensees that generated the unclaimed wagers.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 128c - Simulcast Wagering of Horse and Dog Racing › Section 5a - Limitation on Actions to Recover Winnings

[ Text of section effective until December 15, 2025. Repealed by 2011, 194, Sec. 41. See 2011, 194, Sec. 112 as amended by 2014, 165, Sec. 192; 2016, 176, Sec. 12B; 2017, 56, Sec. 14; 2018, 159, Sec. 14; 2019, 47, Sec. 14; 2020, 1, Sec. 14; 2020, 106, Sec. 14; 2021, 27, Sec. 14; 2022, 128, Sec. 14; and 2023, 26, Sec. 20. See, also, 2001, 139, Sec. 45 as amended by 2005, 176, Sec. 13; 2006, 54, Sec. 12; 2006, 449, Secs. 19 and 21; 2008, 290, Sec. 12; 2009, 167, Sec. 12; 2010, 203, Sec. 12; 2011, 77, Sec. 12; 2011, 194, Sec. 84; 2014, 264, Sec. 11; 2016, 176, Sec. 11; 2017, 56, Sec. 11; 2018, 159, Sec. 11; 2019, 47, Sec. 11; 2020, 1, Sec. 11; 2020, 106, Sec. 11; 2021, 27, Sec. 11; 2022, 128, Sec. 11; and 2023, 26, Sec. 17. Expiration of section does not take effect. See 1992, 101, Sec. 13 as amended by 2001, 139, Sec. 39; 2005, 176, Sec. 12; 2006, 54, Sec. 11; 2006, 449, Secs. 18 and 21; 2008, 290, Sec. 11; 2009, 167, Sec. 11; 2010, 203, Sec. 11 and 2011, 77, Sec. 11 and as repealed by 2011, 194, Sec. 83.]
Section 5A. No action to recover winnings upon a wager made under this chapter after November 15, 2001 shall be commenced after December 31 of the year following the year in which the wager was made and no winnings shall be paid by a licensee except pursuant to a judgment in an action so commenced or in settlement of the action. Within 90 days of December 31, money held by a licensee for the payment of any such wager for the recovery of which no action has commenced within the time herein limited shall be deposited with the commission. A notice of the limitation prescribed by this section in such form as the commission may prescribe shall be posted by each licensee in a conspicuous place at each window or booth where pari-mutuel tickets are sold.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 128c - Simulcast Wagering of Horse and Dog Racing › Section 7b - Regulations Governing Humane Care, Treatment and Transportation of Racing Greyhounds; License Suspension or Revocation

[ Text of section effective until December 15, 2025. Repealed by 2011, 194, Sec. 41. See 2011, 194, Sec. 112 as amended by 2014, 165, Sec. 192; 2016, 176, Sec. 12B; 2017, 56, Sec. 14; 2018, 159, Sec. 14; 2019, 47, Sec. 14; 2020, 1, Sec. 14 ; 2020, 106, Sec. 14; 2021, 27, Sec. 14; 2022, 128, Sec. 14; and 2023, 26, Sec. 20. See, also, 2001, 139, Sec. 45 as amended by 2005, 176, Sec. 13; 2006, 54, Sec. 12; 2006, 449, Secs. 19 and 21; 2008, 290, Sec. 12; 2009, 167, Sec. 12; 2010, 203, Sec. 12; 2011, 77, Sec. 12; 2011, 194, Sec. 84; 2014, 264, Sec. 11; 2016, 176, Sec. 11; 2017, 56, Sec. 11; 2018, 159, Sec. 11; 2019, 47, Sec. 11; 2020, 1, Sec. 11; 2020, 106, Sec. 11; 2021, 27, Sec. 11; 2022, 128, Sec. 11; and 2023, 26, Sec. 17. Expiration of section does not take effect. See 1992, 101, Sec. 13 as amended by 2001, 139, Sec. 39; 2005, 176, Sec. 12; 2006, 54, Sec. 11; 2006, 449, Secs. 18 and 21; 2008, 290, Sec. 11; 2009, 167, Sec. 11; 2010, 203, Sec. 11 and 2011, 77, Sec. 11 and as repealed by 2011, 194, Sec. 83.]
Section 7B. The commission shall adopt regulations governing the humane handling, care, treatment, and transportation of racing greyhounds. The regulations shall include minimum requirements for the handling, housing, feeding, watering, sanitation, ventilation, adequate veterinary care, exercise, and shelter of racing greyhounds, and safety of track surface and banking to prevent injury.
If the commission has reason to believe that any person who is licensed by the commission or who is affiliated with any person, corporation, partnership, trust or any combination of the same or other entity which owns, operates, holds any interest in any race track or other facility which operates pari-mutuel racing of greyhounds, or is licensed to operate such a facility pursuant to section 3 of chapter 128A, violates any provision of this section, or any of the rules or regulations promulgated by the racing commission under this section, the commission may suspend such person's license, and, after notice and opportunity for a hearing, may revoke such license if such violation is determined to have occurred.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 128c - Simulcast Wagering of Horse and Dog Racing › Section 8 - Rules and Regulations

[ Text of section effective until December 15, 2025. Repealed by 2011, 194, Sec. 41. See 2011, 194, Sec. 112 as amended by 2014, 165, Sec. 192; 2016, 176, Sec. 12B; 2017, 56, Sec. 14; 2018, 159, Sec. 14; 2019, 47, Sec. 14; 2020, 1, Sec. 14; 2020, 106, Sec. 14; 2020, 106, Sec. 14; 2021, 27, Sec. 14; 2022, 128, Sec. 14; and 2023, 26, Sec. 20. Expiration of section does not take effect. See 1992, 101, Sec. 13 as amended by 1995, 268, Sec. 20; 1999, 163, Sec. 12; 2000, 354, Sec. 14; 2001, 25, Sec. 1; 2001, 54, Sec. 4; 2001, 70, Sec. 4; 2001, 95, Sec. 4; 2001, 108, Sec. 4; 2001, 121, Sec. 4; 2001, 139, Sec. 39; 2005, 176, Sec. 12; 2006, 54, Sec. 11; 2006, 449, Secs. 18 and 21; 2008, 290, Sec. 11; 2009, 167, Sec. 11; 2010, 203, Sec. 11 and 2011, 77, Sec. 11 and as repealed by 2011, 194, Sec. 83.]
Section 8. The commission shall have full power to promulgate rules, regulations, and conditions under which all running horse, harness horse, or greyhound racing simulcasts and simulcast wagers shall be conducted in the commonwealth. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, the commission may adopt emergency rules or regulations to protect the health or safety of the public, participants, or animals, or to insure the integrity of racing and pari-mutuel wagering; provided, however, that no emergency rule or regulation shall attempt to regulate the dates, manner of wagering, or economic terms or conditions of running horse, harness horse, and greyhound racing within the commonwealth; provided, further, that such emergency rules and regulations shall expire within ninety days of their promulgation.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 128c - Simulcast Wagering of Horse and Dog Racing › Section 9 - Simulcast or Acceptance of Wager on Greyhound Dog Racing by Racing Meeting Licensee Prohibited

[ Text of section added by 2022, 128, Sec. A1 effective August 1, 2023 does not take effect. See 2022, 128, Sec. 18 repealed by 2023, 26, Sec. 22. See also, Section 9 added by 2022, 173, Sec. 27 effective August 10, 2023, below.]
Section 9. Notwithstanding sections 1 to 8, inclusive, or any other general or special law to the contrary, no racing meeting licensee, including a licensee holding racing meetings in connection with a state or county fair, as defined in section 1 of chapter 128A, shall simulcast or accept a simulcast wager on greyhound dog racing.
Chapter 128C: Section 9. Simulcast or acceptance of wager on greyhound dog racing by racing meeting licensee prohibited; running horse racing meeting licensee to conduct not less than 20 live racing days at thoroughbred horse racing track
[ Text of section added by 2022, 173, Sec. 6 effective August 10, 2023. See 2022, 173, Sec. 27. See also, Section 9 added by 2022, 128, Sec. A1 effective August 1. 2023, above.]
Section 9. Notwithstanding sections 1 to 8, inclusive, or any other general or special law to the contrary, no racing meeting licensee, including licensees holding racing meetings in connection with a state or county fair as defined in section 1 of chapter 128A, shall simulcast or accept a wager on greyhound dog racing, and a running horse racing meeting licensee shall conduct not less than 20 live racing days at a thoroughbred horse racing track, provided, the commission may waive this requirement as necessary and appropriate to ensure the financial ability of the licensee to develop and operate a race track.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 129 - Livestock Disease Control › Section 1 - Definitions

Section 1. The following words as used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires, shall have the following meanings:
''Agents'', employees of the division of animal health in the department of food and agriculture especially designated as agents by the director.
''Contagious disease'', such disease as is recognized by the United States department of agriculture, animal health division, to be contagious or infectious.
''Director'', director of animal health.
''Division'', the division of animal health of the department of food and agriculture.
''Domestic animals'', all animals including poultry that are kept or harbored as domesticated animals. Poultry as used in this section shall include chickens, roosters, capons, hens, turkeys, pigeons, guinea fowl, and ducks and geese other than wild species.
''Guard Dog Business'', the business of furnishing, whether by lease or sale, dogs trained as guard dogs to protect life or property, or of training such guard dogs.
''Hearing dog'', a dog that has completed a program of professional training to aid deaf and hearing impaired individuals whenever such dog is professionally trained by a person engaged in the hearing dog business to aid the deaf and actually being used for such purpose, or a dog owned by a person engaged in the hearing dog business within the commonwealth during the period such dog is being trained or bred for such purpose.
''Hearing dog business'', the business of furnishing, whether by lease, sale or otherwise, dogs trained as hearing dogs, or of training such hearing dogs.
''Inspector'', inspector of animals appointed under section fifteen or sixteen.
''Pet shop'', every place or premise where birds, mammals or reptiles are kept for the purpose of sale at either wholesale or retail, import, export, barter, exchange or gift.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 129 - Livestock Disease Control › Section 2 - Powers and Duties of Director; Orders

Section 2. The director may make and enforce reasonable orders, rules and regulations relative to the following: the sanitary condition of neat cattle, other ruminants and swine and of places where such animals are kept; the prevention, suppression and extirpation of contagious diseases of domestic animals; the establishing of disease-free herds of cattle and the issuing of certificates in connection therewith; the inspection, examination, quarantine, care and treatment or destruction of domestic animals affected with or which have been exposed to contagious disease, the burial or other disposal of their carcasses, and the cleansing and disinfection of places where contagion exists or has existed. No rules or regulations shall take effect until approved by the governor and council.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 129 - Livestock Disease Control › Section 4 - Certification of Documents by Clerk

Section 4. The director may designate an employee of the division as clerk who shall keep the records of the division, shall certify copies of such records or of any order, rule or regulation issued by the director, and shall make any certificates of issuing, recording, delivering or publishing of orders required under this chapter.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 129 - Livestock Disease Control › Section 5 - Entry of Orders, Rules and Regulations on Records; Publication

Section 5. All orders, rules and regulations made by the director shall be entered on the records of his division and a copy thereof shall be sent to each inspector in the town to which the orders, rules or regulations apply, and shall be published by such inspector in the manner prescribed by the order, rule or regulation.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 129 - Livestock Disease Control › Section 6 - Aid to Director and Inspectors by Sheriffs, Constables and Police Officers

Section 6. Sheriffs, constables and police officers shall upon request of the director or an inspector assist him in the performance of his duties and shall have the same powers and protection, while so engaged, as peace officers.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 129 - Livestock Disease Control › Section 7 - Entry on Premises

Section 7. For the purpose of inspecting or examining animals or the places where they are kept, the director, any of his agents or an inspector, duly qualified, may enter any building or part thereof or any enclosure or other place, and may examine or inspect such animals or places. Whoever prevents, obstructs or interferes with such director, agent, inspector or other person having like authority in the performance of any of his duties, or whoever hinders, obstructs or interferes with his making such inspection or examination, or whoever secretes or removes any animal, for the purpose of preventing it from being inspected or examined, shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than two months, or both.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 129 - Livestock Disease Control › Section 8 - Hospitals and Quarantine Stations

Section 8. The director may establish hospitals or quarantine stations, with proper accommodations, wherein, under prescribed regulations, animals selected by him may be confined and treated for the purpose of determining the characteristics of a specific contagion and the methods by which it may be disseminated or destroyed, and he may direct inspectors to enforce and carry into effect all regulations made from time to time for that purpose.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 129 - Livestock Disease Control › Section 9 - Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals; Animal Rescue League of Boston; Agents; Powers and Duties

Section 9. The agents of the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the agents of the Animal Rescue League of Boston may visit all places at which neat cattle, horses, mules, sheep, swine or other animals are delivered for transportation or are slaughtered, any pet shop where animals, birds, fish or reptiles are sold, or exhibited, or for sale, any guard dog business, any hearing dog business and any stable where horses are kept for hire or boarded for a fee, or any licensed kennel where animals are boarded for a fee or any animal dealer licensed with the United States Department of Agriculture, for the purpose of preventing violations of any law and of detecting and punishing the same and such agents shall have the power to prosecute any such violation coming to their notice. Records of inspection made under authority of this section shall be filed with the office of the division of animal health, within the department of agriculture no later than three months after such inspection. Any person who prevents, obstructs or interferes with any such agent in the performance of such duties shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than two months, or both.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation › Chapter 129 - Livestock Disease Control › Section 10 - Examination of Persons Under Oath; Mandatory Attendance and Testimony of Witnesses

Section 10. The director may examine on oath all persons who are believed to possess knowledge of material facts relative to the existence or dissemination, or danger of dissemination, of contagious diseases among domestic animals, or relative to any other matter within the provisions of this chapter, and, for the purposes of this chapter, shall have all the powers vested in justices of the peace by chapters two hundred and twenty-two and two hundred and thirty-three to take depositions, to compel witnesses to attend and testify before him and to administer oaths. Witnesses shall receive the same fees for attendance and travel as witnesses before the courts. The expense of procuring the attendance of such witnesses shall be paid by the commonwealth. Copies of the records of the division, or of any order, rule or regulation issued by the director, if duly certified by the clerk, and any certificate by the clerk of the issuing, recording, delivering or publishing of such orders, rules or regulations under this chapter, shall be competent evidence of such fact in any tribunal.