The department commission, by rule, may define a strain of Maine Standardbred, bred or owned in the State of Maine and registered with the department in its registry book. The department commission is also authorized to establish necessary fees for horses and races in the establishment of a Maine Standardbred program, the funds from which must be administered by the department by deposit in a trust account entitled Sire Stakes Fund. All disbursements from the fund must be for the purposes of supplementing purses, costs of administration and any other appropriate expenses incurred by the department. A report must be submitted annually by the executive director to the commissioner setting forth an itemization of all deposits to and expenditures from the fund.

Sec. 8. 8 MRSA §283, as amended by PL 1997, c. 528, §44, is further amended to read:

§283. Reciprocal disciplinary action

The department commission shall act to obtain current listings from other states of persons in harness racing occupations regulated by the state who have been refused a license or who have had their license revoked or suspended. The department commission shall refuse to license or shall suspend the license of these persons until notification that they are again eligible for licensing in the state or states in question.

Sec. 9. 8 MRSA §285-A, sub-§1, ¶A, as reallocated by PL 1997, c. 735, §6, is amended to read:

A. "Eligible voter," with respect to each racing segment, means those owners, trainers and drivers who are licensed by this State and who participated during at least 15% of the race dates actually conducted within a racing segment. Any licensed owner, trainer or driver who believes that licensed owner, trainer or driver would have participated in at least 15% of the race dates actually conducted within a racing segment except for extraordinary circumstances beyond the licensed owner's, trainer's or driver's control may petition the commission during the following January. If the commission finds that special circumstances in fact did exist and did prevent the licensed owner, trainer or driver from qualifying, the commission shall certify the person as an "eligible voter" with respect to that racing segment.

Sec. 10. 8 MRSA §285-A, sub-§1, ¶C, as reallocated by PL 1997, c. 735, §6, is amended to read: