SENATE
HOUSE
JOINT
BILL STATUS
STATE LAW
REPORTS
EDUCATIONAL
CONTACT
home
home
Introduced Version Senate Bill 4013 History

OTHER VERSIONS  -  Committee Substitute (2)  |  Engrossed Version  |  Committee Substitute (1)  |     |  Email
Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted
Senate Bill No 4013

(By Senators Tomblin, Mr. President, and Sprouse,

By Request of the Executive)

____________

[Introduced September 7, 2005; referred to the Committee on the Judiciary; and then to the Committee on Finance.]

____________



A BILL to amend and reenact §19-23-9, §19-23-12b, §19-23-12c, §19-23-13b and §19-23-13c of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; and to amend and reenact §29-22A-10b of said code, all relating to amending certain provisions of the code involving horse and dog racing and distribution of certain proceeds; providing a special fund, to be established by the Racing Commission, to be used for the payment of breeders' awards, restrictive races and stakes purses; deleting obsolete provisions; providing the Racing Commission deposit funds required to be withheld from an association or licensee, for purposes of retirement withholdings for employees of racing associations or licensees, into the West Virginia Thoroughbred Fund; deleting the stated objective for the Fund to aid in the rejuvenation and development of horse tracks in the state for capital improvements, etc.; providing that the Commission establish funds and accounts for each association and licensee rather than holding funds in deposit in one fund; deleting current provisions concerning the distribution of balances remaining in breeders/raisers, sire owners and purse supplement funds; clarifying the meaning of the phrase "sufficient horses" for purposes of parimutuel thoroughbred horse tracks' provision of restricted races; providing that the "twenty percent larger" requirement for purses in restricted races is only applicable to thoroughbred racetracks that have participated in the West Virginia Thoroughbred Development Fund for more than four consecutive years; providing the Racing Commission may transfer funds back to the general purse fund if less than seventy-five percent of the restricted races fail to receive enough entries to race; deleting the provision that prohibits associations and licensees who qualify for alternate tax provisions contained in subsection (b), section ten, article twenty-three, chapter nineteen of said code from eligibility for treatment under the provisions of section thirteen-b of said article; providing that on the first day of January, two thousand six, licensed racing associations must have a West Virginia Thoroughbred Racing Breeders Program; providing, under provisions relating to the expenditure of racetrack video lottery funds, that the next two hundred thousand dollars deposited into the West Virginia Racing Commission Racetrack Video Lottery Account shall be used for promotional activities and purses for open stake races for the West Virginia Derby which is held at a racetrack that did not participate in the West Virginia Breeders Classic - rather than the current statutory language which designates nonparticipation in the West Virginia Thoroughbred Development Fund; substituting the breeders classic for the Thoroughbred Development Fund; and deleting provisions relating to a racetrack which does not have a breeder's program, supported by the Thoroughbred Development Fund or Greyhound Breeding Development Fund, that requires the one and one-half percent of terminal net income designated for the West Virginia Thoroughbred Development Fund to be diverted to the special Fund established by the licensee and used for payment of regular purses.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That §19-23-9, §19-23-12b, §19-23-12c, §19-23-13b and §19-23-13c
of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended and reenacted; and that §29-22A-10b of said code be amended and reenacted, all to read as follows:
CHAPTER 19. AGRICULTURE.

ARTICLE 23. HORSE AND DOG RACING.
§19-23-9. Pari-mutuel system of wagering authorized; licensee authorized to deduct commissions from pari-mutuel pools; retention of breakage; auditing; minors.

(a) The pari-mutuel system of wagering upon the results of any horse or dog race at any horse or dog race meeting conducted or held by any licensee is hereby authorized, if and only if, such pari-mutuel wagering is conducted by the licensee within the confines of the licensee's horse racetrack or dog racetrack, and the provisions of section one, article ten, chapter sixty-one of this code, relating to gaming shall not apply to the pari-mutuel system of wagering in manner and form as provided for in this article at any horse or dog race meeting within this state where horse or dog racing shall be permitted for any purse by any licensee. A licensee shall permit or conduct only the pari-mutuel system of wagering within the confines of the licensee's racetrack at which any horse or dog race meeting is conducted or held.
(b) A licensee is hereby expressly authorized to deduct a commission from the pari-mutuel pools, as follows:
(1) The commission deducted by any licensee from the pari-mutuel pools on thoroughbred horse racing, except from thoroughbred horse racing pari-mutuel pools involving what is known as multiple betting in which the winning pari-mutuel ticket or tickets are determined by a combination of two or more winning horses, shall not exceed seventeen and one-fourth percent of the total of the pari-mutuel pools for the day. Out of the commission, as is mentioned in this subdivision, the licensee: (i) Shall pay the pari-mutuel pools tax provided for in subsection (b), section ten of this article; (ii) shall make a deposit into a special fund to be established by the licensee and to be used for the payment of regular purses offered for thoroughbred racing by the licensee, which deposits out of pari-mutuel pools for each day during the months of January, February, March, October, November and December shall be seven and three hundred seventy-five one-thousandths percent of the pari-mutuel pools and which, out of pari-mutuel pools for each day during all other months, shall be six and eight hundred seventy-five one-thousandths percent of the pari-mutuel pools, which shall take effect beginning fiscal year one thousand nine hundred ninety; (iii) shall after allowance for the exclusion given by subsection (b), section ten of this article, make a deposit into a special fund to be established by the racing commission and to be used for the payment of breeders, awards and capital improvements breeders awards, restrictive races and stakes purses as authorized by section thirteen-b of this article, which deposits out of pari-mutuel pools shall from the effective date of this section and for fiscal year one thousand nine hundred eighty-five, be four-tenths percent; for fiscal year one thousand nine hundred eighty-six, be seven-tenths percent; for fiscal year one thousand nine hundred eighty-seven, be one percent; for fiscal year one thousand nine hundred eighty-eight, be one and one-half percent; and for fiscal year one thousand nine hundred eighty-nine, and each year thereafter, shall be two percent of the pools; and (iv) shall pay one tenth of one percent of the pari-mutuel pools into the general fund of the county commission of the county in which the racetrack is located, except if within a municipality, then to the Municipal General Fund. The remainder of the commission shall be retained by the licensee.
Each licensee that permits or conducts pari-mutuel wagering at the licensee's thoroughbred horse racetrack shall annually pay five hundred thousand dollars from the special fund required by this section to be established by the licensee for the payment of regular purses offered for thoroughbred racing by the licensee into a special fund established by the Racing Commission for transfer to a pension plan established by the Racing Commission for all back stretch personnel, including, but not limited to, exercise riders, trainers, grooms and stable forepersons licensed by the Racing Commission to participate in horse racing in this state and their dependents.
Each thoroughbred racetrack licensee is authorized to enter into an agreement with its local Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association under which an agreed upon percentage of up to two percent of purses actually paid during the preceding month may be paid to the local Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association from the special fund required by this section for their respective medical trusts for backstretch personnel and administrative fees.
The commission deducted by any licensee from the pari-mutuel pools on thoroughbred horse racing involving what is known as multiple betting in which the winning pari-mutuel ticket or tickets are determined by a combination of two winning horses shall not exceed nineteen percent and by a combination of three or more winning horses shall not exceed twenty-five percent of the total of such pari-mutuel pools for the day. Out of the commission, as is mentioned in this paragraph, the licensee: (i) Shall pay the pari-mutuel pools tax provided for in subsection (b), section ten of this article; (ii) shall make a deposit into a special fund to be established by the licensee and to be used for the payment of regular purses offered for thoroughbred racing by the licensee, which deposits out of pari-mutuel pools for each day during the months of January, February, March, October, November and December, for pools involving a combination of two winning horses shall be eight and twenty-five one-hundredths percent and out of pari-mutuel pools for each day during all other months shall be seven and seventy-five one-hundredths percent of the pari-mutuel pools; and involving a combination of three or more winning horses for the months of January, February, March, October, November and December the deposits out of the fund shall be eleven and twenty-five one-hundredths percent of the pari-mutuel pools; and which, out of pari-mutuel pools for each day during all other months, shall be ten and seventy-five one-hundredths percent of the pari-mutuel pools; (iii) shall after allowance for the exclusion given by subsection (b), section ten of this article, make a deposit into a special fund to be established by the racing commission and to be used for the payment of breeders' awards and capital improvements as authorized by section thirteen-b of this article, which deposits out of breeder awards, restrictive races and stakes purses which deposits out of pari-mutuel pools shall from the effective date of this section and for fiscal year one thousand nine hundred eighty-five, be four-tenths percent; for fiscal year one thousand nine hundred eighty-six, be seven-tenths percent; for fiscal year one thousand nine hundred eighty-seven, be one percent; for fiscal year one thousand nine hundred eighty-eight, be one and one-half percent; and for fiscal year one thousand nine hundred eighty-nine, and each year thereafter, be two percent of the pools; and (iv) shall pay one tenth of one percent of the pari-mutuel pools into the general fund of the county commission of the county in which the racetrack is located, except if within a municipality, then to the Municipal General Fund. The remainder of the commission shall be retained by the licensee.
The commission deducted by the licensee under this subdivision may be reduced only by mutual agreement between the licensee and a majority of the trainers and horse owners licensed by subsection (a), section two of this article or their designated representative. The reduction in licensee commissions may be for a particular race, racing day or days or for a horse race meeting. Fifty percent of the reduction shall be retained by the licensee from the amounts required to be paid into the special fund established by the licensee under the provisions of this subdivision. The Racing Commission shall promulgate any reasonable rules that are necessary to implement the foregoing provisions.
(2) The commission deducted by any licensee from the pari-mutuel pools on harness racing shall not exceed seventeen and one-half percent of the total of the pari-mutuel pools for the day. Out of the commission the licensee shall pay the pari-mutuel pools tax provided for in subsection (c), section ten of this article and shall pay one tenth of one percent into the general fund of the county commission of the county in which the racetrack is located, except if within a municipality, then to the Municipal General Fund. The remainder of the commission shall be retained by the licensee.
(3) The commission deducted by any licensee from the pari-mutuel pools on dog racing, except from dog racing pari-mutuel pools involving what is known as multiple betting in which the winning pari-mutuel ticket or tickets are determined by a combination of two or more winning dogs, shall not exceed sixteen and thirty one-hundredths percent of the total of all pari-mutuel pools for the day. The commission deducted by any licensee from the pari-mutuel pools on dog racing involving what is known as multiple betting in which the winning pari-mutuel ticket or tickets are determined by a combination of two winning dogs shall not exceed nineteen percent, by a combination of three winning dogs shall not exceed twenty percent, and by a combination of four or more winning dogs shall not exceed twenty-one percent of the total of such pari-mutuel pools for the day. The foregoing commissions are in effect for the fiscal years one thousand nine hundred ninety and one thousand nine hundred ninety-one. Thereafter, the commission shall be at the percentages in effect prior to the effective date of this article unless the Legislature, after review, determines otherwise. Out of the commissions, the licensee shall pay the pari-mutuel pools tax provided for in subsection (d), section ten of this article and one tenth of one percent of such pari-mutuel pools into the general fund of the county commission of the county in which the racetrack is located. In addition, out of the commissions, if the racetrack is located within a municipality, then the licensee shall also pay three tenths of one percent of the pari-mutuel pools into the general fund of the municipality; or, if the racetrack is located outside of a municipality, then the licensee shall also pay three tenths of one percent of the pari-mutuel pools into the State Road Fund for use by the Division of Highways in accordance with the provisions of this subdivision. The remainder of the commission shall be retained by the licensee.
For the purposes of this section, "municipality" means and includes any Class I, Class II and Class III city and any Class IV town or village incorporated as a municipal corporation under the laws of this state prior to the first day of January, one thousand nine hundred eighty-seven.
Each dog racing licensee, when required by the provisions of this subdivision to pay a percentage of its commissions to the State Road Fund for use by the Division of Highways, shall transmit the required funds, in such manner and at such times as the Racing Commission shall by procedural rule direct, to the State Treasurer for deposit in the State Treasury to the credit of the Division of Highways State Road Fund. All funds collected and received in the State Road Fund pursuant to the provisions of this subdivision shall be used by the Division of Highways in accordance with the provisions of article seventeen-a, chapter seventeen of this code for the acquisition of right-of-way for, the construction of, the reconstruction of and the improvement or repair of any interstate or other highway, secondary road, bridge and toll road in the state. If on the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred eighty-nine, any area encompassing a dog racetrack has incorporated as a Class I, Class II or Class III city or as a Class IV town or village, whereas such city, town or village was not incorporated as such on the first day of January, one thousand nine hundred eighty-seven, then on and after the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred eighty-nine, any balances in the State Road Fund existing as a result of payments made under the provisions of this subdivision may be used by the State Road Fund for any purpose for which other moneys in the fund may lawfully be used, and in lieu of further payments to the State Road Fund, the licensee of a racetrack which is located in the municipality shall thereafter pay three tenths of one percent of the pari-mutuel pools into the general fund of the municipality. If, no incorporation occurs before the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred eighty-nine, then payments to the State Road Fund shall thereafter continue as provided for under the provisions of this subdivision.
A dog racing licensee, before deducting the commissions authorized by this subdivision, shall give written notification to the Racing Commission not less than thirty days prior to any change in the percentage rates for the commissions. The Racing Commission shall prescribe blank forms for filing the notification. The notification shall disclose the following: (A) The revised commissions to be deducted from the pari-mutuel pools each day on win, place and show betting and on different forms of multiple bettings; (B) the dates to be included in the revised betting; and (C) such other information as may be required by the Racing Commission.
The licensee shall establish a special fund to be used only for capital improvements or long-term debt amortization or both: Provided, That any licensee, heretofore licensed for a period of eight years prior to the effective date of the amendment made to this section during the regular session of the Legislature held in the year one thousand nine hundred eighty-seven, shall establish the special fund to be used only for capital improvements or physical plant maintenance, or both, at the licensee's licensed facility or at the licensee's commonly owned racing facility located within this state. Deposits made into the funds shall be in an amount equal to twenty-five percent of the increased rate total over and above the applicable rate in effect as of the first day of January, one thousand nine hundred eighty-seven, of the pari-mutuel pools for the day. Any amount deposited into the funds must be expended or liability therefor incurred within a period of two years from the date of deposit. Any funds not expended shall be transferred immediately into the State General Fund after expiration of the two-year period.
The licensee shall make a deposit into a special fund established by the licensee and used for payment of regular purses offered for dog racing, which deposits out of the licensee's commissions for each day shall be three and seventy-five one-hundredths percent of the pari-mutuel pools.
The licensee shall further establish a special fund to be used exclusively for marketing and promotion programs; the funds shall be in an amount equal to five percent over and above the applicable rates in effect as of the first day of January, one thousand nine hundred eighty-seven of the total pari-mutuel pools for the day.
The Racing Commission shall prepare and transmit annually to the Governor and the Legislature a report of the activities of the Racing Commission under this subdivision. The report shall include a statement of: The amount of commissions retained by licensees; the amount of taxes paid to the state; the amounts paid to municipalities, counties and the Division of Highways Dog Racing Fund; the amounts deposited by licensees into special funds for capital improvements or long-term debt amortization and a certified statement of the financial condition of any licensee depositing into the fund; the amounts paid by licensees into special funds and used for regular purses offered for dog racing; the amounts paid by licensees into special funds and used for marketing and promotion programs; and such other information as the racing commission may consider appropriate for review.
(c) In addition to any commission, a licensee of horse race or dog race meetings shall also be entitled to retain the legitimate breakage, which shall be made and calculated to the dime, and from the breakage, the licensee of a horse race meeting (excluding dog race meetings), shall deposit daily fifty percent of the total of the breakage retained by the licensee into the special fund created pursuant to the provisions of subdivision (1), subsection (b) of this section for the payment of regular purses.
(d) The director of audit, and any other auditors employed by the Racing Commission who are also certified public accountants or experienced public accountants, shall have free access to the space or enclosure where the pari-mutuel system of wagering is conducted or calculated at any horse or dog race meeting for the purpose of ascertaining whether or not the licensee is deducting and retaining only a commission as provided in this section and is otherwise complying with the provisions of this section. They shall also, for the same purposes only, have full and free access to all records and papers pertaining to the pari-mutuel system of wagering and shall report to the Racing Commission in writing, under oath, whether or not the licensee has deducted and retained any commission in excess of that permitted under the provisions of this section or has otherwise failed to comply with the provisions of this section.
(e) No licensee shall permit or allow any individual under the age of eighteen years to wager at any horse or dog racetrack, knowing or having reason to believe that the individual is under the age of eighteen years.
(f) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of subdivision (1), subsection (b) of this section, to the contrary, a thoroughbred licensee qualifying for and paying the alternate reduced tax on pari-mutuel pools provided in section ten of this article shall distribute the commission authorized to be deducted by subdivision (1), subsection (b) of this section as follows: (i) The licensee shall pay the alternate reduced tax provided in section ten of this article; (ii) the licensee shall pay one tenth of one percent of the pari-mutuel pools into the general fund of the county commission of the county in which the racetrack is located, except if within a municipality, then to the Municipal General Fund; (iii) the licensee shall pay one half of the remainder of the commission into the special fund established by the licensee and to be used for the payment of regular purses offered for thoroughbred racing by the licensee; and (iv) the licensee shall retain the amount remaining after making the payments required in this subsection.
(g) Each kennel which provides or races dogs owned or leased by others shall furnish to the Commission a surety bond in an amount to be determined by the Commission to secure the payment to the owners or lessees of the dogs the portion of any purse owed to the owner or lessee.
§19-23-12b. Televised racing days; merging of pari-mutuel wagering pools.
(a) For the purposes of this section:
(1) "Televised racing day" means a calendar day, assigned by the Commission, at a licensed racetrack on which pari-mutuel betting is conducted on horse or dog races run at other racetracks in this state or at racetracks outside of this state which are broadcast by television at a licensed racetrack and which day or days have had the prior written approval of the representative of the majority of the owners and trainers who hold permits required by section two of this article; and
(2) "Host Racing Association" means any person who, pursuant to a license or other permission granted by the host governmental entity, conducts the horse or dog race upon which wagers are placed.
(b) A licensee conducting not less than two hundred twenty live racing dates for each horse or dog race meeting may, with the prior approval of the State Racing Commission, contract with any legal wagering entity in this state or in any other governmental jurisdiction to receive telecasts and accept wagers on races conducted by the legal wagering entity: Provided, That at those thoroughbred racetracks the licensee, in applying for racing dates, shall apply for not less than two hundred ten live racing dates for each horse race meeting. Provided, however, That at those thoroughbred racetracks that have participated in the West Virginia thoroughbred development fund for a period of more than four consecutive calendar years prior to the thirty-first day of December, one thousand nine hundred ninety-two, the licensee may apply for not less than one hundred fifty-nine live racing dates during the calendar year of one thousand nine hundred ninety-seven If, thereafter, for reasons beyond the licensee's control, related to adverse weather conditions, unforeseen casualty occurrences or a shortage of thoroughbred horses eligible to compete for purses, the licensee concludes that this number of racing days cannot be attained, the licensee may file a request with the Racing Commission to reduce the authorized live racing days. Upon receipt of the request the Racing Commission shall within seventy-two hours of the receipt of the request notify the licensee and the representative of a majority of the owners and trainers at the requesting track and the representative of the majority of the mutuel clerks at the requesting track that such request has been received and that if no objection to the request is received within ten days of the notification the request will be approved: Provided, further however, That the Commission shall give consideration to whether there existed available unscheduled potential live racing dates following the adverse weather or casualty and prior to the end of the race meeting which could be used as new live racing dates in order to maintain the full live racing schedule previously approved by the Racing Commission. If an objection is received by the Commission within the time limits, the Commission shall, within thirty days of receipt of such objection, set a hearing on the question of reducing racing days, which hearing shall be conducted at a convenient place in the county in which the requesting racetrack is located. The Commission shall hear from all parties concerned and, based upon testimony and documentary evidence presented at the hearing, shall determine the required number of live racing days: And Provided further, That the Commission shall not reduce the number of live racing days below one hundred eighty-five days for a horse race meeting unless the licensee requesting such reduction has: (i) Filed with the Commission a current financial statement, which shall be subject to independent audit; and (ii) met the burden of proving that just cause exists for such requested reduction in live racing days. The telecasts may be received and wagers accepted at any location authorized by the provisions of section twelve-a of this article. The contract must receive the approval of the representative of the majority of the owners and trainers who hold permits required by section two of this article at the receiving thoroughbred racetrack.
(c) The Commission may allow the licensee to commingle its wagering pools with the wagering pools of the host racing association. If the pools are commingled, the wagering at the licensee's racetrack must be on tabulating equipment capable of issuing pari-mutuel tickets and be electronically linked with the equipment at the sending racetrack. Subject to the approval of the Commission, the types of betting, licensee commissions and distribution of winnings on pari-mutuel pools of the sending licensee racetrack are those in effect at the licensee racetrack. Breakage for pari-mutuel pools on a televised racing day must be calculated in accordance with the law or rules governing the sending racetrack and must be distributed in a manner agreed to between the licensee and the sending racetrack. For the televised racing services it provides, the host racing association shall receive a fee to be paid by the receiving licensee racetrack which shall be in an amount to be agreed upon by the receiving licensee racetrack and the host racing association.
(d) The Commission may assign televised racing days at any time. When a televised racing day is assigned, the Commission shall assign either a steward or an auditor to preside over the televised races at the licensee racetrack.
(e) (1) From the licensee commissions authorized by subsection (c) of this section, the licensee shall pay one tenth of one percent of each commission into the general fund of the county, in which the racetrack is located and at which the wagering occurred and there is imposed and the licensee shall pay, for each televised racing day on which the total pari-mutuel pool exceeds one hundred thousand dollars, the greater of either: (i) The total of the daily license tax and the pari-mutuel pools tax required by section ten of this article; or (ii) a daily license tax of one thousand two hundred fifty dollars. For each televised racing day on which the total pari-mutuel pool is one hundred thousand dollars or less, the licensee shall pay a daily license tax of five hundred dollars plus an additional license tax of one hundred dollars for each ten thousand dollars, or part thereof, that the pari-mutuel pool exceeds fifty thousand dollars, but does not exceed one hundred thousand dollars. The calculation of the total pari-mutuel pool for purposes of this subsection shall include only one half of all wagers placed at a licensed racetrack in this state on televised races conducted at another licensed racetrack within this state. Payments of the tax imposed by this section are subject to the requirements of subsection (e), section ten of this article.
(2) From the licensee commissions authorized by subsection (c) of this section, after payments are made in accordance with the provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection, the licensee shall pay, for each televised racing day, one fourth of one percent of the total pari-mutuel pools for and on behalf of all employees of the licensed racing association by making a deposit into a special fund to be established by the Racing Commission and to be used for payments into the pension plan for all employees of the licensed racing association.
(3) From the licensee commissions authorized by subsection (c) of this section, after payments are made in accordance with the provisions of subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection, thoroughbred licensees shall pay, one-half percent of net simulcast income and for each televised racing day on or after the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred ninety-seven, an additional five and one-half percent of net simulcast income into the West Virginia Thoroughbred Development Fund established by the Racing Commission according to section thirteen-b of this article. Provided, That no licensee qualifying for the alternate tax provisions of subsection (b), section ten of this article shall be required to make the payments unless the licensee has participated in the West Virginia thoroughbred development fund for a period of more than four consecutive calendar years prior to the thirty-first day of December, one thousand nine hundred ninety-two For the purposes of this section, the term "net simulcast income" means the total commission deducted each day by the licensee from the pari-mutuel pools on simulcast horse or dog races, less direct simulcast expenses, including, but not limited to, the cost of simulcast signals, telecommunication costs and decoder costs.
(f) After deducting the tax and other payments required by subsection (e) of this section, the amount required to be paid under the terms of the contract with the host racing association and the cost of transmission, the horse racing association shall make a deposit equal to fifty percent of the remainder into the purse fund established under the provisions of subdivision (1), subsection (b), section nine of this article. After deducting the tax and other payments required by subsection (e) of this section, dog racetracks shall pay an amount equal to two tenths of one percent of the daily simulcast pari-mutuel pool to the "West Virginia Racing Commission Special Account-West Virginia Greyhound Breeding Development Fund".
(g) The provisions of the "Federal Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978", also known as Public Law 95-515, Section 3001-3007 of Title 15, U.S. Code, as amended, controls in determining the intent of this section.
§19-23-12c. Interstate simulcasts by licensed racetracks.
(a) Any licensed racing association may be authorized by the Commission to transmit broadcasts of races conducted at its racetrack to legal wagering entities located outside this state, which legal wagering entities located outside this state shall not be subject to the provisions of subsection (e), section twelve-b of this article: Provided, That as consideration for the televised racing services it provides, the host racing association shall receive a signal transmission fee to be paid by the receiving legal wagering entity which shall be in an amount agreed upon by the receiving legal wagering entity and the host racing association. All broadcasts of horse races shall be in accordance with all of the provisions of the "Federal Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978," also known as Public Law 95-515, Section 3001-3007 of Title 15 of the United States Code.
(b) One percent of the total signal transmission fee provided in subsection (a) of this section shall be paid into a special fund to be established by the Racing Commission for and on behalf of all employees of the licensed racing association to be used for payments into the pension plan for all employees of the licensed racing association, and any a thoroughbred horse racetrack which has participated in the West Virginia thoroughbred development fund for a period of more than four consecutive calendar years prior to the thirty-first day of December, one thousand nine hundred ninety-two, shall pay seven and one-half percent of the signal transmission fee into the West Virginia Thoroughbred Development Fund established by the Racing Commission according to section thirteen-b of this article. After deducting: (i) The amounts required to be placed into the pension plan for all employees of the licensed racing association under this section; (ii) the amounts, if any, required to be paid into the West Virginia Thoroughbred Development Fund under this section; and (iii) the direct costs necessary to send a live audio and visual signal of horse races or dog races from any racetrack licensed under the provisions of section one of this article to any legal wagering entities outside this state for the purpose of pari-mutuel wagering, which direct costs shall include the cost of satellite equipment necessary to transmit the signal, a satellite operator and the satellite time necessary to broadcast the signal and the cost of telecommunication and facsimile services needed to communicate necessary information to all legal wagering entities for the purpose of pari-mutuel wagering, thoroughbred horse racing associations shall make a deposit equal to fifty percent of the remainder into the purse fund established under the provisions of subdivision (1), subsection (b), section nine of this article: Provided, That the funds deposited in the purse fund pursuant to this section may be used for the payment of regular purses or, upon agreement between the horse racing association and the representative of the majority of owners and trainers at a particular thoroughbred racetrack, may be used for capital improvements supporting simulcast operations.
§19-23-13b. West Virginia Thoroughbred Development Fund; distribution; restricted races; nonrestricted purse supplements; preference for West Virginia accredited thoroughbreds.

(a) The Racing Commission shall deposit moneys required to be withheld by an association or licensee in subsection (b), section nine of this article in a banking institution of its choice in a special account to be known as "West Virginia Racing Commission Special Account -- West Virginia Thoroughbred Development Fund:" Provided, That notwithstanding any other provision of this code to the contrary, beginning the first day of October, two thousand five, the Racing Commission shall deposit moneys required to be withheld from an association or licensee under the provisions of subsection (b), section nine of this article, subdivision (3), subsection (e), section twelve-b of this article, subsection (b), section twelve-c of this article, paragraph (B), subdivision (3), subsection (b), section thirteen-c of this article and section ten-b, article twenty-two-a, chapter twenty-nine of this code for deposit in the "West Virginia Racing Commission Special Account - West Virginia Thoroughbred Development Fund" with a banking institution of its choice in a separate account for each association or licensee. Each separate account shall be a special account to be known as "West Virginia Racing Commission Special Account - West Virginia Thoroughbred Development Fund" and shall name the Racing Commission or licensee from which the funds deposited in the account have been withheld.
Notice of the amount, date and place of the deposit deposits shall be given by the Racing Commission, in writing, to the State Treasurer. The purpose of the fund funds is to promote better breeding and racing of thoroughbred horses in the state through awards and purses for accredited breeders/raisers, sire owners and thoroughbred race horse owners: A further objective of the fund is to aid in the rejuvenation and development of the present horse tracks now operating in West Virginia for capital improvements, operations or increased purses Provided, That five percent of the deposits required to be withheld by an association or licensee in subsection (b), section nine of this article shall be placed in a special revenue account hereby created in the State Treasury called the "Administration and Promotion Account."
(b) The Racing Commission is authorized to expend the moneys deposited in the administration and promotion account at times and in amounts as the Commission determines to be necessary for purposes of administering and promoting the thoroughbred development program: Provided, That during any fiscal year in which the Commission anticipates spending any money from the account, the Commission shall submit to the executive department during the budget preparation period prior to the Legislature convening before that fiscal year for inclusion in the executive budget document and budget bill the recommended expenditures, as well as requests of appropriations for the purpose of administration and promotion of the program. The Commission shall make an annual report to the Legislature on the status of the administration and promotion account, including the previous year's expenditures and projected expenditures for the next year.
(c) The fund or funds and the account or accounts established in subsection (a) of this section shall operate on an annual basis.
(d) Funds in the Thoroughbred Development Fund or funds shall be expended for awards and purses except as otherwise provided in this section. Annually, the first three hundred thousand dollars of the each fund shall be available for distribution for stakes races at a racetrack which has participated in the West Virginia Thoroughbred Development Fund for a period of more than four consecutive calender years prior to the thirty-first day of December, nineteen hundred ninety-two. One of the stakes races shall be the West Virginia Futurity and the second shall be the Frank Gall Memorial Stakes. For the purpose of participating in the West Virginia Futurity only, all mares, starting with the breeding season beginning the first day of February through the thirty-first day of July, two thousand four, and each successive breeding season thereafter shall be bred back that year to an accredited West Virginia stallion only which is registered with the West Virginia Thoroughbred Breeders Association. The remaining races may be chosen by the committee set forth in subsection (g) (f) of this section.
(e) Awards and purses shall be distributed as follows:
(1) The breeders/raisers of accredited thoroughbred horses that earn a purse at any a participating West Virginia meet shall receive a bonus award calculated at the end of the year as a percentage of the fund dedicated to the breeders/raisers, which shall be sixty percent of the fund available for distribution in any one year. The total amount available for the breeders'/raisers' awards shall be distributed according to the ratio of purses earned by an accredited race horse to the total amount earned in the participating races by all accredited race horses for that year as a percentage of the fund dedicated to the breeders/raisers. However, no breeder/raiser may receive from the fund dedicated to breeders'/raisers' awards an amount in excess of the earnings of the accredited horse at West Virginia meets. In addition, should a horse's breeder and raiser qualify for the same award on the same horse, they will each be awarded one half of the proceeds. The bonus referred to in this subdivision (1) may only be paid on the first one hundred thousand dollars of any purse, and not on any amounts in excess of the first one hundred thousand dollars.
(2) The owner of a West Virginia sire of an accredited thoroughbred horse that earns a purse in any race at a participating West Virginia meet shall receive a bonus award calculated at the end of the year as a percentage of the fund dedicated to sire owners, which shall be fifteen percent of the fund available for distribution in any one year. The total amount available for the sire owners' awards shall be distributed according to the ratio of purses earned by the progeny of accredited West Virginia stallions in the participating races for a particular stallion to the total purses earned by the progeny of all accredited West Virginia stallions in the participating races. However, no sire owner may receive from the fund dedicated to sire owners an amount in excess of thirty-five percent of the accredited earnings for each sire. The bonus referred to in this subdivision (2) shall only be paid on the first one hundred thousand dollars of any purse, and not on any amounts in excess of the first one hundred thousand dollars.
(3) The owner of an accredited thoroughbred horse that earns a purse in any participating race at a West Virginia meet shall receive a restricted purse supplement award calculated at the end of the year, which shall be twenty-five percent of the fund available for distribution in any one year, based on the ratio of the earnings in the races of a particular race horse to the total amount earned by all accredited race horses in the participating races during that year as a percentage of the fund dedicated to purse supplements. However, the owners may not receive from the fund dedicated to purse supplements an amount in excess of thirty-five percent of the total accredited earnings for each accredited race horse. The bonus referred to in this subdivision shall only be paid on the first one hundred thousand dollars of any purse, and not on any amounts in excess of the first one hundred thousand dollars.
(4) In no event may purses earned at a meet held at a track which did not make a contribution to the Thoroughbred Development Fund out of the daily pool on the day the meet was held qualify or count toward eligibility for an award under this subsection.
(5) Any balance in the breeders/raisers, sire owners and purse supplement funds after yearly distributions shall first be used to fund the races established in subsection (g) (f) of this section. Any amount not so used shall revert back into the general account of the Thoroughbred Development Fund for each racing association or licensee for distribution in the next year.
Distribution shall be made on the fifteenth day of each February for the preceding year's achievements.
(f) The remainder, if any, of the thoroughbred development fund that is not available for distribution in the program provided for in subsection (e) of this section in any one year is reserved for regular purses, marketing expenses and for capital improvements in the amounts and under the conditions provided in this subsection (f).
(1) Fifty percent of the remainder shall be reserved for payments into the regular purse fund established in subsection (b), section nine of this article.
(2) Up to five hundred thousand dollars per year shall be available for:
(A) Capital improvements at the eligible licensed horse racing tracks in the state; and
(B) Marketing and advertising programs above and beyond two hundred fifty thousand dollars for the eligible licensed horse racing tracks in the state: Provided, That moneys shall be expended for capital improvements or marketing and advertising purposes as described in this subsection only in accordance with a plan filed with and receiving the prior approval of the racing commission, and on a basis of fifty percent participation by the licensee and fifty percent participation by moneys from the fund, in the total cost of approved projects: Provided, however, That funds approved for one track may not be used at another track unless the first track ceases to operate or is viewed by the commission as unworthy of additional investment due to financial or ethical reasons.
(g) (f) (1) Each pari-mutuel thoroughbred horse track shall provide at least one restricted race per racing day: Provided, That sufficient horses and funds are available. For purposes of this subsection, there are sufficient horses if there are at least seven single betting interests received for the race. The restricted race required by this section must be included in the first nine races written in the condition book for that racing day.
(2) The restricted races established in this subsection shall be administered by a three-member committee at each track consisting of:
(A) The racing secretary;
(B) A member appointed by the authorized representative of a majority of the owners and trainers at the thoroughbred track; and
(C) A member appointed by a majority of the West Virginia Thoroughbred Breeders Association.
(3) The purses for the restricted races established in this subsection shall be twenty percent larger than the purses for similar type races at each track or equal to or of greater value than a comparable race: Provided, That sufficient funds are available: Provided, however, That the twenty percent requirement is applicable only to a thoroughbred racetrack which has participated in the West Virginia Thoroughbred Development Fund for a period of more than four consecutive calender years prior to the thirty-first day of December, one thousand nine hundred ninety-two.
(4) Restricted races shall be funded by each racing association from:
(A) Moneys placed in the general purse fund up to a maximum of three hundred fifty thousand dollars per year.
(B) Moneys as provided in subdivision (5), subsection (e) of this section, which shall be placed in a special fund called the "West Virginia Accredited Race Fund."
(5) The racing schedules, purse amounts and types of races are subject to the approval of the West Virginia Racing Commission.
(6) If less than seventy-five percent of the restricted races required by this subsection fail to receive enough entries to race, the Racing Commission shall, on a quarterly basis, dedicate funds in each fund back to the general purse fund of the racing association or licensee: Provided, That no moneys may be dedicated back to a general purse fund if the dedication would leave less than two hundred fifty thousand dollars in the fund.
(h) (g) As used in this section, "West Virginia bred-foal" means a horse that was born in the State of West Virginia.
(i) (h) To qualify for the West Virginia Accredited Race Fund, the breeder must qualify under one of the following:
(1) The breeder of the West Virginia bred-foal is a West Virginia resident;
(2) The breeder of the West Virginia bred-foal is not a West Virginia resident, but keeps his or her breeding stock in West Virginia year round; or
(3) The breeder of the West Virginia bred-foal is not a West Virginia resident and does not qualify under subdivision (2) of this subsection, but either the sire of the West Virginia bred-foal is a West Virginia stallion, or the mare is covered by a West Virginia stallion following the birth of that West Virginia bred-foal.
(j) No association or licensee qualifying for the alternate tax provision of subsection (b), section ten of this article is eligible for participation in any of the provisions of this section: Provided, That the provisions of this subsection do not apply to a thoroughbred race track at which the licensee has participated in the West Virginia thoroughbred development fund for a period of more than four consecutive calendar years prior to the thirty-first day of December, one thousand nine hundred ninety-two.
(k) (i) From the first day of July, two thousand one, West Virginia accredited thoroughbred horses have preference for entry in all accredited races at a thoroughbred race track at which the licensee has participated participates in the West Virginia Thoroughbred Development Fund. for a period of more than four consecutive calendar years prior to the thirty-first day of December, one thousand nine hundred ninety-two
(j) Beginning the first day of July, two thousand six, any racing association licensed by the Racing Commission to conduct thoroughbred racing and permitting and conducting pari-mutuel wagering under the provisions of this article must have a West Virginia Thoroughbred Racing Breeders Program.
§19-23-13c. Expenditure of racetrack video lottery distribution.
(a) Funds received by the Racing Commission pursuant to subdivision (6), subsection (c), section ten, article twenty-two-a, chapter twenty-nine of this code, and subdivision (5), subsection (a), section ten-b, article twenty-two-a, chapter twenty-nine of this code, after the effective date of this section together with the balance in the bank account previously established by the Commission to receive those funds shall be deposited in a banking institution of its choice in a special account to be known as "West Virginia Racing Commission Racetrack Video Lottery Account." Notice of the amount, date and place of each deposit shall be given by the Racing Commission, in writing, to the State Treasurer.
(b) Funds in this account shall be allocated and expended as follows:
(1) For each fiscal year, the first eight hundred thousand dollars deposited in the separate account plus the amount then remaining of the June thirtieth, one thousand nine hundred ninety-seven, balance in the separate account previously established for the West Virginia breeders classic under section thirteen of this article, shall be used by the Commission for promotional activities, advertising, administrative costs and purses for the West Virginia Thoroughbred Breeders Classic, which shall give equal consideration to all horses qualifying under the West Virginia breeders program for each stake race, based solely on the horses' sex, age and earnings.
(2) For each fiscal year, the next two hundred thousand dollars deposited into the separate account shall be used by the Commission for promotional activities and purses for open stake races for a race event to be known as the West Virginia Derby to be held at a thoroughbred racetrack which does not participate in the West Virginia thoroughbred development fund Breeders Classic.
(3) For each fiscal year, once the amounts provided in subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection (b) have been deposited into separate bank accounts for use in connection with the West Virginia Thoroughbred Breeders Classics and the West Virginia Derby, the Commission shall return to each racetrack all additional amounts deposited which originate during that fiscal year from each respective racetrack pursuant to subdivision (6), subsection (c), section ten, article twenty-two-a, chapter twenty-nine of this code, which returned excess funds shall be used as follows:
(A) For each dog racetrack, one half of the returned excess funds shall be used for capital improvements at the racetrack and one half of the returned excess funds shall be deposited into the West Virginia Racing Commission Special Account - West Virginia Greyhound Breeding Development Fund.
(B) At those thoroughbred racetracks that have participated in the West Virginia Thoroughbred Development Fund for a period of more than four consecutive calendar years prior to the thirty-first day of December, one thousand nine hundred ninety-two, one half of the returned excess funds shall be used for capital improvements at the licensee's racetrack and one half of the returned excess funds shall be equally divided between the West Virginia Thoroughbred Breeders Classic and the West Virginia Thoroughbred Development Fund.
(C) At those thoroughbred horse racetracks which do not participate in the West Virginia thoroughbred development fund Breeders Classic, one half of the returned excess funds shall be used for capital improvements at the licensee's racetrack and one half of the returned excess funds shall be used for purses for the open stakes race event known as the West Virginia Derby.
(c) All expenditures that are funded under this section must be approved in writing by the West Virginia Racing Commission before the funds are expended for any of the purposes authorized by this section.
CHAPTER 29. MISCELLANEOUS BOARDS AND OFFICERS.

ARTICLE 22A. RACETRACK VIDEO LOTTERY.

§29-22A-10b. Distribution of excess net terminal income.
(a) For all years beginning on or after the first day of July, two thousand one, any amount of net terminal income generated annually by a licensed racetrack in excess of the amount of net terminal income generated by that licensed racetrack during the fiscal year ending on the thirtieth day of June, two thousand one, shall be divided as follows:
(1) The commission shall receive forty-one percent of net terminal income, which the commission shall deposit in the state excess lottery revenue fund created in section eighteen-a, article twenty-two of this chapter;
(2) Until the first day of July, two thousand five, eight percent of net terminal income at a licensed racetrack shall be deposited in the special fund established by the licensee and used for payment of regular purses in addition to other amounts provided for in article twenty-three, chapter nineteen of this code; on and after the first day of July, two thousand five, the rate shall be four percent of net terminal income;
(3) The county where the video lottery terminals are located shall receive two percent of the net terminal income Provided, That:
(A) Any amount by which the total amount under this section and subdivision (3), subsection (c), section ten of this article is in excess of the two percent received during fiscal year one thousand nine hundred ninety-nine by a county in which a racetrack is located that has participated in the West Virginia thoroughbred development fund since on or before the first day of January, one thousand nine hundred ninety-nine, shall be divided as follows:
(i) The county shall receive fifty percent of the excess amount; and
(ii) The municipalities of the county shall receive fifty percent of the excess amount, the fifty percent to be divided among the municipalities on a per capita basis as determined by the most recent decennial United States census of population; and
(B) Any amount by which the total amount under this section and subdivision (3), subsection (c), section ten of this article is in excess of the two percent received during fiscal year one thousand nine hundred ninety-nine by a county in which a racetrack other than a racetrack described in paragraph (A) of this proviso is located and where the racetrack has been located in a municipality within the county since on or before the first day of January, one thousand nine hundred ninety-nine, shall be divided, if applicable, as follows:
(i) The county shall receive fifty percent of the excess amount; and
(ii) The municipality shall receive fifty percent of the excess amount; and
(C) This proviso shall not affect the amount to be received under this subdivision by any county other than a county described in paragraph (A) or (B) of this proviso;
(4) One half of one percent One percent of net terminal income shall be paid for and on behalf of all employees of the licensed racing association by making a deposit into a special fund to be established by the racing commission to be used for payment into the pension plan for all employees of the licensed racing association;
(5) The West Virginia thoroughbred development fund created under section thirteen-b, article twenty-three, chapter nineteen of this code and the West Virginia greyhound breeding development fund created under section ten, article twenty-three, chapter nineteen of this code shall receive an equal share of a total of not less than one and one-half percent of the net terminal income; Provided, That for any racetrack which does not have a breeder's program supported by the thoroughbred development fund or the greyhound breeding development fund, the one and one-half percent provided for in this subdivision shall be deposited in the special fund established by the licensee and used for payment of regular purses, in addition to other amounts provided for in subdivision (2) of this subsection and article twenty-three, chapter nineteen of this code
(6) The West Virginia Racing Commission shall receive one percent of the net terminal income which shall be deposited and used as provided in section thirteen-c, article twenty-three, chapter nineteen of this code;
(7) A licensee shall receive forty-two forty-one and one-half percent of net terminal income;
(8) The tourism promotion fund established in section twelve, article two, chapter five-b of this code shall receive three percent of the net terminal income: Provided, That for each fiscal year beginning after the thirtieth day of June, two thousand four, this three percent of net terminal income shall be distributed pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (B), subdivision (8), subsection (c), section ten of this article;
(9) (A) On and after the first day of July, two thousand five, four percent of net terminal income shall be deposited into the Workers' Compensation Debt Reduction Fund created in section five, article two-d, chapter twenty-three of this code: Provided, That in any fiscal year when the amount of money generated by this subdivision together with the total allocation transferred by the operation of subdivision (9), subsection (c), section ten of this article totals eleven million dollars, all subsequent distributions under this subdivision (9) during that fiscal year shall be deposited in the special fund established by the licensee, and used for payment of regular purses in addition to other amounts provided for in article twenty-three, chapter nineteen of this code;
(B) The deposit of the four percent of net terminal income into the Worker's Compensation Debt Reduction Fund pursuant to this subdivision shall expire and not be imposed with respect to these funds, which shall be deposited in the special fund established by the licensee and used for payment of regular purses in addition to the other amounts provided in article twenty-three, chapter nineteen of this code, on and after the first day of the month following the month in which the Governor certifies to the legislature that: (i) The revenue bonds issued pursuant to article two-d, chapter twenty-three of this code, have been retired or payment of the debt service is provided for; and (ii) that an independent certified actuary has determined that the unfunded liability of the old fund, as defined in chapter twenty-three of this code, has been paid or provided in its entirety; and
(10) (A) One percent of the net terminal income shall be deposited in equal amounts in the capitol dome and improvements fund created under section two, article four, chapter five-a of this code and cultural facilities and capitol resources matching grant program fund created under section three, article one of this chapter; and
(B) Notwithstanding any provision of paragraph (A) of this subdivision to the contrary, for each fiscal year beginning after the thirtieth day of June, two thousand four, this one percent of net terminal income shall be distributed pursuant to the provisions of subparagraph (ii), paragraph (B), subdivision (9), subsection (c), section ten of this article.
(b) The commission may establish orderly and effective procedures for the collection and distribution of funds under this section in accordance with the provisions of this section and section ten of this article.


NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to amend provisions of the code involving horse and dog racing as follows: (1) Providing a special fund, to be established by the Racing Commission, to be used for the payment of breeders awards, restrictive races and stakes purses; (2) deleting obsolete provisions; (3) providing the Racing Commission deposit funds required to be withheld from an association or licensee for purposes of retirement withholdings for employees of racing associations or licensees into the "West Virginia Thoroughbred Fund"; (4) deleting the stated objective for fund to aid in the rejuvenation and development of horse tracks in the state for capital improvements, etc.; (5) providing that the Commission establish funds and accounts for each association and licensee rather than holding funds in deposit in one fund; (6) deleting current provisions concerning the distribution of balances remaining in breeders/raisers, sire owners and purse supplement funds; (7) clarifying the meaning of the phrase "sufficient horses" for purposes of pari-mutuel thoroughbred horse tracks' provision of restricted races; (8) providing that the 20% larger requirement purses in restricted races is only applicable to thoroughbred racetracks that have participated in the West Virginia Thoroughbred Development Fund for more than four consecutive years; (9) providing the Racing Commission pay funds back to the general purse fund if less than 75% of the restricted races fail to receive enough entries to race; (10) deleting the provision that prohibits associations and licensees who qualify for alternate tax provisions contained in subsection (b), section ten, article twenty-three, chapter nineteen from eligibility for treatment under the provisions of section thirteen-b, article twenty-three, chapter nineteen; (11) providing that on January first, two thousand six, licensed racing associations must have a West Virginia Thoroughbred Racing Breeders Program; (12) providing under provisions relating to the expenditure of racetrack video lottery funds, that the next two hundred thousand dollars deposited into the West Virginia Racing Commission Racetrack Video Lottery Account shall be used for promotional activities and purses for open stake races for the West Virginia Derby which is held at a racetrack that did not participate in the West Virginia Breeders Classic - rather than the current statutory language which designates nonparticipation in the West Virginia thoroughbred development fund; (13) substituting the breeders classic for the thoroughbred development fund; and, (14) deleting provisions requiring the distribution of excess net terminal income, equivalent to one and one-half percent of such income, when racetracks do not have a breeder's program under the Thoroughbred Development Fund or the Greyhound Breeding Development Fund, to the special fund established for the licensee and used for payment of regular purses.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.
This Web site is maintained by the West Virginia Legislature's Office of Reference & Information.  |  Terms of Use  |   Email WebmasterWebmaster   |   © 2024 West Virginia Legislature **


X

Print On Demand

Name:
Email:
Phone:

Print