HB 882 -- HORSE RACING AND PARI-MUTUEL WAGERING

CO-SPONSORS:  Crump, Foley, Hickey, McKenna, Bowman, Ford,
Haywood, Thompson

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on
Miscellaneous Bills and Resolutions by a vote of 8 to 1.

This bill makes numerous changes to the Missouri Horse Racing
Commission and its powers and duties.  In its main provisions,
the bill:

(1)  Specifies requirements for commission members; current law
does not list any requirements;

(2)  Establishes procedures for filling member vacancies,
assigns the commission to the Department of Public Safety
instead of to the Missouri Gaming Commission, and authorizes the
commission to hire employees, which is prohibited in current law;

(3)  Requires all licensing revenues to be deposited into the
Missouri Horse Racing Fund, except for amounts designated for
the Missouri Breeders Fund.  The Horse Racing Fund will pay the
commission's expenses, and any surplus will be deposited into
the Horse Racing for Education Fund, subject to appropriation.
Current law requires all moneys to be deposited into the
Missouri Horse Racing Fund, subject to appropriation;

(4)  Requires that the 3 stewards appointed by the commission to
be at each horse race meeting be certified by the Association of
Racing Commissioners International.  Current law does not
require certification;

(5)  Authorizes the commission to license applicants for tracks
and pari-mutuel wagering facilities and to impose penalties on
non-compliant licensees;

(6)  Outlines the powers of the commission and specifies grounds
for disciplinary action by the commission against licensees;

(7)  Authorizes simulcasts of horse races;

(8)  Makes licenses valid until revoked for cause;

(9)  Establishes application procedures, including a $50,000
application fee;

(10)  Requires an applicant to affirm that it will conduct at
least 50 days of live racing in Missouri each year and that it
will make a capital investment in its race meeting grounds in
Missouri of at least $25 million within the first year of
operation;

(11)  Makes the pari-mutuel system to be used by the licensee
subject to commission approval and outlines additional
requirements of pari-mutuel systems and duties of the operators
of the systems;

(12)  Repeals the requirement that all of the licensee's
contracts for payment of compensation and any improvements to
the property be subject to commission approval;

(13)  Repeals fees for registration of stable names; under
current law, these fees are deposited into the General Revenue
Fund;

(14)  Designates certain percentages of wagers to be paid to the
commission, the Missouri Horse Racing Fund, and the Missouri
Breeders Fund;

(15)  Prohibits individuals from taking wagers for a fee outside
of the licensed race meeting grounds and prohibits unauthorized
gambling at a licensed race meeting grounds track.  Violation is
a class C felony; and

(16)  Makes it a class A misdemeanor to operate pari-mutuel
wagering without an appropriate license or in a manner other
than authorized.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Net Effect to Missouri Horse Racing Fund
of $0 in FY 2002, FY 2003, and FY 2004.  Income to Horse Racing
for Education Fund of $0 to Unknown in FY 2002, FY 2003, and FY
2004.  Income to Missouri Breeders Fund of $0 to Unknown in FY
2002, FY 2003, and FY 2004.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that St. Louis is a world-class
city, especially as far as sports are concerned, and that horse
racing and breeding would be an economic benefit to Missouri.
Missouri already has a prevalent horse culture with at least
31,000 quarter horse owners in the state.  Having a track in St.
Louis would boost the breeding business in the state.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Crump; and Magna
Entertainment Corporation.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Donna Schlosser, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated November 26, 2001 at 11:46 am