HF 223 (LSB 1896YH (7) 86)

HOUSE FILE 223

BY  MAXWELL

A BILL FOR

An Act concerning minimum purse distributions for horse racing, providing fees, and including effective and applicability date provisions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 99D.7, subsection 5, paragraph b, Code 2015, is amended to read as follows:
   b.  The commission shall, beginning January 1, 2012, regulate the purse structure for all horse racing so that seventy-six percent is designated for thoroughbred racing, fifteen and one-quarter percent is designated for quarter horse racing, and eight and three-quarters percent is designated for standardbred racing.  However, beginning January 1, 2015, the purse moneys designated for horse racing for each calendar year shall be no less than the purse moneys designated for horse racing during calendar year 2014. Moneys required for horse racing purses as provided in this paragraph in a calendar year in excess of moneys designated for horse purses as provided by section 99F.6, subsection 4, paragraph “a”, subparagraph (3), shall be collected by the commission, and designated for horse racing, as a fee charged to each licensee issued a new license to conduct gambling games under chapter 99F after January 1, 2014. The purse moneys designated for standardbred racing may only be used to support standardbred harness racing purses, breeder’s awards, or expenses at the state fair, county fairs, or other harness racing tracks approved by the commission, or for the maintenance, construction, or repair of harness racing tracks located in Iowa and at the fairgrounds for such fairs or other harness racing tracks located in Iowa and approved by the commission. The horse racetrack in Polk county shall not provide funding to support standardbred racing at such county fairs that is not otherwise provided for in this paragraph.
    Sec. 2.  EFFECTIVE UPON ENACTMENT.  This Act, being deemed of immediate importance, takes effect upon enactment.
    Sec. 3.  RETROACTIVE APPLICABILITY.  This Act applies retroactively to January 1, 2015.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with

the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill provides that, beginning January 1, 2015, the racing and gaming commission, in regulating the purse structure for horse racing, shall require that purse moneys designated for horse racing for each calendar year be no less than the purse moneys designated for horse racing during calendar year 2014. Current law provides that the purse moneys designated for horse racing be no less than a certain percentage of gross receipts from gambling games at the gambling games licensee in Polk county. The bill takes effect upon enactment and applies retroactively to January 1, 2015. 
   The bill further provides that if required purse moneys for horse racing exceed the amount designated for horse purses from gambling game receipts, the commission shall collect the difference, to be used for horse racing, as a fee on new gambling game licensees issued a license under Code chapter 99F after January 1, 2014.