CHAPTER 300
H.P. 1052 - L.D. 1415
Emergency preamble. Whereas, Acts of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, certain clarifications of the laws governing harness racing are necessary in order for funds to be distributed appropriately prior to the end of the racing season; and
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 8 MRSA §275-E, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 388, §8, is amended to read:
1. Commissions. Except as provided in subsection 2, the total commission on pools of regular wagers is 18% of each dollar wagered and the total commission on pools of exotic wagers is 26% of each dollar wagered, plus the odd cents of all redistribution to be based on each dollar wagered, whether regular wagers or exotic wagers, exceeding a sum equal to the next lowest multiple of 10, known as "breakage," which must be retained by the licensee. Notwithstanding anything in this chapter to the contrary, the minimum payoff on a winning show wager must be 5% above the amount wagered.
Sec. 2. 8 MRSA §292, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 528, §46, is amended to read:
Amounts calculated as horsemen's purse share under section 286 must be retained by the licensee to supplement purse money at the track where the wager was placed, except that, for wagers placed at a racetrack in the State on a simulcast race conducted at another racetrack in the State, 1.512% of the regular wagers and 4.305% of the exotic wagers must be sent to the track in the State where the harness race was conducted.
Sec. 3. 8 MRSA §295, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 528, §46, is amended to read:
2. Distribution. On May 30th, September 30th and within 30 days after the close of all off-track betting facilities for the year, amounts payable under subsection 1 for distribution in accordance with this subsection must be distributed only for the dates assigned by the commissioner pursuant to Title 7, section 65 to the commercial racetracks and the agricultural fair associations that provide simulcast transmission of live racing in the State. Distribution must be in the proportion that the amount of exotic wagers placed at off-track betting facilities on simulcast races from each licensee up to the last day of the preceding month bears to the total amount wagered of exotic wagers at off-track betting facilities on races simulcast from all commercial racetracks and agricultural fair associations up to that date. The last payment of the calendar year must be adjusted to reflect each licensee's exotic wagers in proportion to the total wagered of the exotic wagers at off-track betting facilities in that calendar year.
Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this Act takes effect when approved.
Effective May 29, 2001.
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