Sec. 1. 8 MRSA §264, 2nd ¶, as repealed and replaced by PL 1997, c. 735, §1, is amended to read:

Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, all officials whose presence is regularly required at a race meet must be licensed by the commission and hired on an annual basis by the licensee. The commission shall provide the list of approved judges in accordance with section 279-C. The commission shall appoint judges and associate judges to serve at racing meets licensed in accordance with this chapter.__Upon appointment, a judge or associate judge becomes an employee of the person holding the license for the racing meets to which that judge or associate judge has been appointed. The licensee may terminate the employment of a presiding or associate judge hired under this section only with the consent of the commission.

SUMMARY

This bill provides for the Maine Harness Racing Commission to appoint the judges and associate judges to preside at licensed racing meets. Once appointed by the commission, the judge is an employee of the person licensed to conduct the racing meets.