Whereas , The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to immediately encourage economic development at state and county fairs, therefore it is hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public convenience.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1. The seventh paragraph of section 5 of chapter 114 of the acts of 1991, as appearing in chapter 104 of the acts of 1994, is hereby amended by striking out the words "seven percent of each wager" and inserting in place thereof the following words:- eight percent of each wager.

SECTION 2. Said seventh paragraph of said section 5 of said chapter 114, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out the words "said seven percent" and inserting in place thereof the following words:- said eight percent.

SECTION 3. The eighth paragraph of said section 5 of said chapter 114, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the words "seven percent" and inserting in place thereof the following words:- three-quarters of one percent.

SECTION 4. Said section 5 of said chapter 114 is hereby further amended by adding the following paragraph:-

Any agricultural fair operating a running horse meet shall pay a sum equal to one percent of the total handle at the end of its racing schedule to the Massachusetts Thoroughbred Breeders Association, Inc.; provided, however, that said Massachusetts Thoroughbred Breeders Association, Inc. shall develop a program to support horse racing at agricultural fairs, including, but not limited to, owners' and breeders' awards for Massachusetts bred thoroughbreds and provisions to supplement the purses of races or to provide the entire purse for the Massachusetts bred thoroughbred races.