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An Act To Improve Marketing Efficiency in the Harness Racing Industry by Requiring Its Promotion by the State Harness Racing Commission and by Repealing the Harness Racing Promotional Board
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  8 MRSA §263-A, sub-§6  is enacted to read:
 
6.  Promotion of harness racing.     The commission shall assist in the promotion of harness racing in the State through the formation of advisory subcommittees, facilitation of marketing plans and the expenditure or granting of funds.
Sec. 2. 8 MRSA §285, as amended by PL 2003, c. 401, §17, is repealed.
Sec. 3. 8 MRSA §291, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 528, §46, is amended to read:
§ 291.Harness Racing Promotional Fund share
Amounts calculated as Harness Racing Promotional Fund share under section 286 must be paid to the Treasurer of State for deposit in the Harness Racing Promotional Fund for use as provided in section 285299-A.
Sec. 4.  8 MRSA §299-A  is enacted to read:
§ 299-A. Harness Racing Promotional Fund
 
1.  Fund created.     The Harness Racing Promotional Fund, referred to in this section as "the fund," is established to assist with the promotion of harness racing in the State. The fund consists of any money received through the commission on wagers pursuant to section 286 and any contributions, grants or appropriations from private and public sources. The fund, to be accounted for within the commission, must be held separate and apart from all other money, funds and accounts. Any balance remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year does not lapse but must be carried forward to the next fiscal year.
 
2.  Expenditures.     The commission may expend revenue or award grants from the fund consistent with the purposes of this section.
Sec. 5. Transfer. The State Controller shall transfer all unexpended balances of the Harness Racing Promotional Board to the Harness Racing Promotional Fund established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 8, section 299-A no later than 30 days following the effective date of this Act.
 
SUMMARY
This bill adds promotion of harness racing to the existing responsibilities of the State Harness Racing Commission. The bill also repeals the Harness Racing Promotional Board and transfers the funds held by the board to the Harness Racing Promotional Fund, which will be administered by the State Harness Racing Commission and used to promote harness racing.