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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 and 7  are enacted to read:
 
6.  Promotion of harness racing.     The commission shall promote harness racing in the State through the formation of advisory subcommittees, the facilitation of marketing plans and the expenditure or granting of funds.
 
7.  Input on the promotion of harness racing.     The commission shall invite input from a statewide association of harness horsemen, a statewide association of Standardbred breeders, a statewide association of agricultural fairs and persons who are members of organizations representing the interests of commercial harness racing tracks and off-track betting facilities on the marketing and promotion of harness racing in this State.
Sec. 2. 8 MRSA §267, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2017, c. 231, §5, is further amended to read:
 
2. Report.   Beginning April 1, 2018February 15, 2019, and annually thereafter, the commission shall submit a report to the commissioner and the joint standing committees of the Legislature having jurisdiction over slot machines, harness racing, agricultural fairs and appropriations and financial affairs. This report must include an account of the commission's operations and actions, a report of its financial position, including receipts and disbursements, an account of the practical effects of application of this chapter and any recommended legislation. The operations report must include the number and types of violations of racing laws and rules, the disposition of those violations and the amount of time required for their disposition, including a history of any appeals. The report must include the date and amount of each administrative assessment withdrawn in accordance with section 267-A from each of the assessed funds under section 267-A, subsection 4. The report must include an account of the commission's operations and actions regarding the promotion of harness racing, a summary of income and expenses of the Harness Racing Promotional Fund, including any receipts and disbursements, and an assessment of the economic condition of the harness racing industry in this State.
Sec. 3. 8 MRSA §285, as amended by PL 2003, c. 401, §17, is repealed.
Sec. 4. 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. 5.  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 be used solely for the marketing and 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 shall administer the fund consistent with the purposes of this section.
Sec. 6. 8 MRSA §1037, first ¶, as amended by PL 2017, c. 231, §26, is further amended to read:
Beginning April 1, 2018February 15, 2019 and annually thereafter, the executive director of the State Harness Racing Commission, in consultation with the Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, shall submit a report to the joint standing committees of the Legislature having jurisdiction over slot machines, harness racing, agricultural fairs and appropriations and financial affairs regarding the use of slot machine revenue deposited in funds under section 1036, subsection 2, paragraphs B, C, D, H and I. The executive director and the commissioner shall obtain the information as described in this section. The report required by this section must be completed using budgeted resources. The executive director may not distribute funds listed under section 1036, subsection 2, as applicable, to harness racing tracks, off-track betting facilities, agricultural fairs or the Sire Stakes Fund under section 281 until the information required to submit the report required by this section is provided. The report required by this section may be combined with the report required under section 267.
Sec. 7. 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.
Sec. 8. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.
 
AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY, DEPARTMENT OF
 
Harness Racing Commission 0320
 
Initiative: Provides an ongoing allocation to the Harness Racing Promotional Fund, which is being moved from the Harness Racing Promotional Board to the State Harness Racing Commission.

OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS	2017-18	2018-19	
All Other	$0	$50,000	
			
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL	$0	$50,000	

Effective 90 days following adjournment of the 128th Legislature, Second Regular Session, unless otherwise indicated.