sb18 intr

Senate Bill No. 18
(By Senator Snyder)
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[Introduced February 14, 2001; referred to the Committee on the Judiciary; and then to the Committee on Finance.]
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A BILL to amend and reenact section ten, article twenty-two-a, chapter twenty-nine of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, relating to the distribution of proceeds from net terminal income of racetrack video lottery proceeds; and providing funds for health, disability and retirement benefits for eligible active, disabled and retired West Virginia jockeys and their dependents.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That section nine, article twenty-three, chapter nineteen of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, be amended and reenacted; and that section ten, article twenty-two-a, chapter twenty-nine of said code, be amended and reenacted, all to read as follows:
CHAPTER 19. AGRICULTURE.
ARTICLE 23. HORSE AND DOG RACING.

PART VI. PARI-MUTUEL SYSTEM OF WAGERING AUTHORIZED;

COMMISSIONS DEDUCTED FROM PARI-MUTUEL POOLS.

§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 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, be two percent of the pools; (iv) shall annually pay three hundred fifty thousand dollars into a special fund established by the racing commission for payment into a pension plan established by the racing commission for all exercise boys, trainers, grooms and stable foreman licensed by the racing commission to participate in horse racing in this state and their dependents, who participate in racing at thoroughbred race tracks that have participated in the thoroughbred development fund created in section thirteen-b of this article for period of more than four consecutive years prior to the thirty-first day of December, one thousand nine hundred ninety-two; and ~~(iv)~~ (v) 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 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 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 and regulations 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; (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.

The racing commission shall report to the governor, president of the Senate, speaker of the House of Delegates and the Legislature on or before the thirty-first day of December, one thousand nine hundred ninety-three, on the effects of the amendments to this article by the acts of the Legislature, regular session, one thousand nine hundred eighty-seven, on dog racing licensees and pari-mutuel taxation for use by the Legislature in review of the amendments.

(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.
CHAPTER 29. MISCELLANEOUS BOARDS AND OFFICERS.
ARTICLE 22A. RACETRACK VIDEO LOTTERY.

§29-22A-10. Accounting and reporting; commission to provide communications protocol data; distribution of net terminal income; remittance through electronic transfer of funds; establishment of accounts and nonpayment penalties; commission control of accounting for net terminal income; settlement of accounts; manual reporting and payment may be required; request for reports; examination of accounts and records.

(a) The commission shall provide to manufacturers, or applicants applying for a manufacturer's permit, the protocol documentation data necessary to enable the respective manufacturer's video lottery terminals to communicate with the commission's central computer for transmitting auditing program information and for activation and disabling of video lottery terminals.

(b) The gross terminal income of a licensed racetrack shall be remitted to the commission through the electronic transfer of funds. Licensed racetracks shall furnish to the commission all information and bank authorizations required to facilitate the timely transfer of moneys to the commission. Licensed racetracks must provide the commission thirty days' advance notice of any proposed account changes in order to assure the uninterrupted electronic transfer of funds. From the gross terminal income remitted by the licensee to the commission, the commission shall deduct an amount sufficient to reimburse the commission for its actual costs and expenses incurred in administering racetrack video lottery at the licensed racetrack and the resulting amount after ~~such~~ the deduction ~~shall be~~ is the net terminal income. The amount deducted for administrative costs and expenses of the commission may not exceed four percent of gross terminal income.

(c) Net terminal income shall be divided as set out in this subsection. The licensed racetrack's share ~~shall be~~ is in lieu of all lottery agent commissions and is considered to cover all costs and expenses required to be expended by the licensed racetrack in connection with video lottery operations. The division shall be made as follows:

(1) The commission shall receive ~~thirty~~ twenty-nine and one-half percent of net terminal income, which shall be paid into the general revenue fund of the state to be appropriated by the Legislature;

(2) Fourteen 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;

(3) The county where the video lottery terminals are located shall receive two percent of the net terminal income: Provided, That:

(A) Beginning the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred ninety-nine, and thereafter, any amount 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, ~~said~~ 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) Beginning the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred ninety-nine, and thereafter, any amount 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 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-seven 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; and

(9) The veterans memorial program shall receive one percent of the net terminal income until sufficient moneys have been received to complete the veterans memorial on the grounds of the state capitol complex in Charleston, West Virginia. The moneys shall be deposited in the state treasury in the division of culture and history special fund created under section three, article one-i, chapter twenty-nine of this code: Provided, That only after sufficient moneys have been deposited in the fund to complete the veterans memorial and to pay in full the annual bonded indebtedness on the veterans memorial, not more than twenty thousand dollars of the one percent of net terminal income provided for in this subdivision shall be deposited into a special revenue fund in the state treasury, to be known as the "John F. 'Jack' Bennett Fund". The moneys in this fund shall be expended by the division of veterans affairs to provide for the placement of markers for the graves of veterans in perpetual cemeteries in this state. The division of veterans affairs shall promulgate legislative rules pursuant to the provisions of article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code specifying the manner in which the funds are spent, determine the ability of the surviving spouse to pay for the placement of the marker and setting forth the standards to be used to determine the priority in which the veterans grave markers will be placed in the event that there are not sufficient funds to complete the placement of veterans grave markers in any one year, or at all. Upon payment in full of the bonded indebtedness on the veterans memorial, one hundred thousand dollars of the one percent of net terminal income provided for in this subdivision shall be deposited in the special fund in the division of culture and history created under section three, article one-i, chapter twenty-nine of this code and be expended by the division of culture and history to establish a West Virginia veterans memorial archives within the cultural center to serve as a repository for the documents and records pertaining to the veterans memorial, to restore and maintain the monuments and memorial on the capitol grounds, and not more than twenty thousand dollars shall be deposited in the "John F. 'Jack' Bennett Fund": Provided, however, That five hundred thousand dollars of the one percent of net terminal income shall be deposited in the state treasury in a special fund of the department of administration, created under section five, article four, chapter five-a of this code to be used for construction and maintenance of a parking garage on the state capitol complex: Provided further, That the remainder of the one percent of 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 .

(10) One half of one percent of net terminal income, not to exceed three hundred fifty thousand dollars, shall be paid to the "Jockeys' Guild Health and Welfare Trust" to be maintained and administered by "Jockeys' Guild, Inc.", for the purpose of providing health, disability and retirement benefits to eligible active, disabled and retired West Virginia jockeys and their dependents in accordance with eligibility criteria established by "Jockeys' Guild, Inc.": Provided, That any amount exceeding three hundred fifty thousand dollars shall be received and paid by the commission to the state general revenue fund.

(d) Each licensed racetrack shall maintain in its account an amount equal to or greater than the gross terminal income from its operation of video lottery machines, to be electronically transferred by the commission on dates established by the commission. Upon a licensed racetrack's failure to maintain this balance, the commission may disable all of a licensed racetrack's video lottery terminals until full payment of all amounts due is made. Interest shall accrue on any unpaid balance at a rate consistent with the amount charged for state income tax delinquency under chapter eleven of this code,. ~~which~~ The interest shall begin to accrue on the date payment is due to the commission.

(e) The commission's central control computer shall keep accurate records of all income generated by each video lottery terminal. The commission shall prepare and mail to the licensed racetrack a statement reflecting the gross terminal income generated by the licensee's video lottery terminals. Each licensed racetrack ~~must~~ shall report to the commission any discrepancies between the commission's statement and each terminal's mechanical and electronic meter readings. The licensed racetrack is solely responsible for resolving income discrepancies between actual money collected and the amount shown on the accounting meters or on the commission's billing statement.

(f) Until an accounting discrepancy is resolved in favor of the licensed racetrack, the commission may make no credit adjustments. For any video lottery terminal reflecting a discrepancy, the licensed racetrack shall submit to the commission the maintenance log which includes current mechanical meter readings and the audit ticket which contains electronic meter readings generated by the terminal's software. If the meter readings and the commission's records cannot be reconciled, final disposition of the matter shall be determined by the commission. Any accounting discrepancies which cannot be otherwise resolved shall be resolved in favor of the commission.

(g) Licensed racetracks shall remit payment by mail if the electronic transfer of funds is not operational or the commission notifies licensed racetracks that remittance by this method is required. The licensed racetracks shall report an amount equal to the total amount of cash inserted into each video lottery terminal operated by a licensee, minus the total value of game credits which are cleared from the video lottery terminal in exchange for winning redemption tickets, and remit ~~such~~ the amount as generated from its terminals during the reporting period. The remittance shall be sealed in a properly addressed and stamped envelope and deposited in the United States mail no later than noon on the day when the payment would otherwise be completed through electronic funds transfer.

(h) Licensed racetracks may, upon request, receive additional reports of play transactions for their respective video lottery terminals and other marketing information not considered confidential by the commission. The commission may charge a reasonable fee for the cost of producing and mailing any report other than the billing statements.

(i) The commission has the right to examine all accounts, bank accounts, financial statements and records in a licensed racetrack's possession, under its control or in which it has an interest and the licensed racetrack ~~must~~ shall authorize all third parties in possession or in control of the accounts or records to allow examination of any of those accounts or records by the commission.
ARTICLE 23. HORSE AND DOG RACING.

§19-23-13. Disposition of funds for payment of outstanding and unredeemed pari-mutuel tickets; publication of notice; irredeemable tickets; stake races for dog tracks.

(a) All moneys held by any licensee for the payment of outstanding and unredeemed pari-mutuel tickets, if not claimed within ninety days after the close of a horse or dog race meeting or the televised racing day, as the case may be, in connection with which the tickets were issued, shall be turned over by the licensee to the racing commission within fifteen days after the expiration of the ninety-day period and the licensee shall give any information required by the racing commission concerning the outstanding and unredeemed tickets. The moneys shall be deposited by the racing commission in a banking institution of its choice in a special account to be known as "West Virginia Racing Commission Special Account - Unredeemed Pari-Mutuel Tickets". Notice of the amount, date and place of each deposit shall be given by the racing commission, in writing, to the state treasurer. The racing commission shall then cause to be published a notice to the holders of the outstanding and unredeemed pari-mutuel tickets, notifying them to present their unredeemed tickets for payment at the principal office of the racing commission within ninety days from the date of the publication of the notice. The notice shall be published within fifteen days following the receipt of the outstanding and unredeemed pari-mutuel ticket moneys by the commission from the licensee as a Class I legal advertisement in compliance with the provisions of article three, chapter fifty-nine of this code, and the publication area for the publication shall be the county in which the horse or dog race meeting was held and the county in which the televised racing day wagering was conducted in this state.

(b) Any outstanding and unredeemed pari-mutuel tickets that are not presented for payment within ninety days from the date of the publication of the notice are thereafter irredeemable and the moneys theretofore held for the redemption of the pari-mutuel tickets shall become the property of the racing commission and shall be expended as provided in this subsection. The racing commission shall maintain separate accounts for each licensee and shall record in each separate account the moneys turned over by the licensee and the amount expended at the licensee's track for the purposes set forth in this subsection. The moneys in the West Virginia racing commission special account - unredeemed pari-mutuel tickets shall be expended as follows:

(1) To the owner of the winning horse in any horse race at a horse race meeting held or conducted by any licensee: Provided, That the owner of the horse is at the time of the horse race a bona fide resident of this state, a sum equal to ten percent of the purse won by the horse at that race. The commission may require proof that the owner was, at the time of the race, a bona fide resident of this state. Upon proof by the owner that he or she filed a personal income tax return in this state for the previous two years and that he or she owned real or personal property in this state and paid taxes in this state on real or personal property for the previous two years, he or she shall be presumed to be a bona fide resident of this state; and

(2) To the breeder (that is, the owner of the mare) of the winning horse in any horse race at a horse race meeting held or conducted by any licensee: Provided, That the mare foaled in this state, a sum equal to ten percent of the purse won by the horse; and

(3) To the owner of the stallion which sired the winning horse in any horse race at a horse race meeting held or conducted by any licensee: Provided, That the mare which foaled the winning horse was served by a stallion standing and registered in this state, a sum equal to ten percent of the purse won by the horse; and

(4) To those horse racing licensees not participating in the thoroughbred development fund authorized in section thirteen-b of this article, the unexpended balance of the licensee's account not expended as provided in subdivisions (1), (2) and (3) of this subsection: Provided, That all moneys distributed under this subdivision shall be expended solely for capital improvements at the licensee's track: Provided, however, That the capital improvements must be approved, in writing, by the West Virginia racing commission before funds are expended by the licensee for that capital improvement; and

(5) When the moneys in the special account, known as the West Virginia racing commission special account - unredeemed pari-mutuel tickets will more than satisfy the requirements of subdivisions (1), (2), (3) and (4) of this subsection, the West Virginia racing commission shall have the authority to expend the excess moneys from unredeemed horse racing pari-mutuel tickets as purse money in any race conditioned exclusively for West Virginia bred or sired horses and to expend the excess moneys from unredeemed dog racing pari-mutuel tickets in supplementing purses and establishing stake races and dog racing handicaps at the dog tracks: Provided, That subject to the availability of funds, the commission shall, after the requirements of subdivisions (1), (2), (3) and (4) of this subsection have been satisfied:

(A) Transfer annually two hundred thousand dollars to the West Virginia racing commission special account - West Virginia greyhound breeding development fund; and

(B) Transfer annually two hundred thousand dollars into a separate account to be used for stakes races for West Virginia bred greyhounds at dog racetracks.

(c) The commission shall submit to the legislative auditor a quarterly report and accounting of the income, expenditures and unobligated balance in the special account created by this section known as the West Virginia racing commission special account - unredeemed pari-mutuel tickets.

(d) Nothing contained in this article shall prohibit one person from qualifying for all or more than one of the aforesaid awards or for awards under section thirteen-b of this article.

(e) The cost of publication of the notice provided for in this section shall be paid from the funds in the hands of the state treasurer collected from the pari-mutuel pools' tax provided for in section ten of this article, when not otherwise provided in the budget; but no such costs shall be paid unless an itemized account thereof, under oath, be first filed with the state auditor.

§19-23-13b. West Virginia thoroughbred development fund; distribution; restricted races; nonrestricted purse supplements.

(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." Notice of the amount, date and place of the deposit shall be given by the racing commission, in writing, to the state treasurer. The purpose of the fund 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 such times and in such 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.

(d) Funds in the thoroughbred development fund shall be expended for awards and purses except as otherwise provided in this section. Annually, the first one hundred thousand dollars of the fund shall be available for distribution for a maximum of four stakes races. One of these races shall be the West Virginia futurity and the second shall be the Frank Gall memorial stakes. The remaining races may be chosen by the committee set forth in subsection(g) 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 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 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) shall only be paid on the first one hundred thousand dollars of any purse, and not on any amounts in excess thereof.

(2) The owner of a West Virginia sire of an accredited thoroughbred horse that earns a purse in any race at a 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 races for a particular stallion to the total purses earned by the progeny of all accredited West Virginia stallions in the 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 thereof.

(3) The owner of an accredited thoroughbred horse that earns a purse in any 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 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 thereof.

(4) In no event shall 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 (e).

(5) Any balance in the breeders/raisers, sire owners and purse supplement funds after yearly distributions shall first be utilized to fund the races established in subsection (g) of this section. Any amount not so used shall revert back into the general account of the thoroughbred development fund 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)(1) Each pari-mutuel thoroughbred horse track shall provide at least one restricted race per three racing days.

(2) The restricted races established in this subsection shall be administered by a three-member committee 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

(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.

(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.

(h) Effective on and after the first day of July, two thousand, as used in this section, "West Virginia bred-foal" means a horse that was born in the state of West Virginia.

(i) 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 (2) above, 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 shall 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.