HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3497        FILED ON: 1/16/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 279

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

RoseLee Vincent

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to racing and simulcasting in Suffolk County.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3497        FILED ON: 1/16/2015

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 279

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)

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An Act relative to racing and simulcasting in Suffolk County.

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. Notwithstanding section 2 of chapter 128A of the General Laws and sections 1, 2 and 2A of chapter 128C of the General Laws or any other general or special law, rule or regulation to the contrary, the running horse meeting licensee located in Suffolk County licensed to conduct live racing pursuant to said chapter 128A and simulcast wagering pursuant to said chapter 128C in calendar year 2014 shall remain licensed as a running horse racing meeting licensee until July 31, 2016; provided, that the days between January 1 and December 31 of each year shall be dark days pursuant to said chapter 128C; said licensee shall be precluded from conducting live racing during that period unless it applies for and is granted a live racing license pursuant to chapter 128A, which application may be filed for racing dates in 2015 and acted upon by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission notwithstanding the second paragraph of said section 2 of said chapter 128A; and in no event shall said licensee be required to conduct any live racing to remain authorized to conduct simulcast wagering pursuant to said chapter 128C; provided further, that all simulcasts shall comply with the Interstate Horse Racing Act of 1978, 15 U.S.C. Sec. 3001 et seq. or other applicable federal law; provided further, that all simulcasts from states which have racing associations that do not require approval in compliance with the Interstate Horse Racing Act of 1978, 15 U.S.C. Sec 3004(a)(1)(A), except simulcasts during the month of August, shall require the approval of the New England Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association prior to being simulcast to a racing meeting licensee within the commonwealth; and provided further, that if the association agrees to approve the simulcast for 1 racing meeting licensee, it shall approve the simulcast for all otherwise eligible racing meeting licensees.

Section 2. The sixth paragraph of section 4 of said chapter 128C is amended as follows: by striking the words “4 per cent” and inserting in place thereof the following words: - 0.5 per cent.

Section 3. Sections 1 and 2 are hereby repealed.

Section 4. Section 3 shall take effect on December 31, 2016.