1     
HORSE RACING AMENDMENTS

2     
2021 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Michael K. McKell

5     
House Sponsor: ____________

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill addresses horse racing.
10     Highlighted Provisions:
11          This bill:
12          ▸     requires the Utah Horse Racing Commission to report rulemaking action to a
13     legislative committee; and
14          ▸     makes technical changes.
15     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
16          None
17     Other Special Clauses:
18          None
19     Utah Code Sections Affected:
20     AMENDS:
21          4-38-104, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2019, Chapter 239
22     

23     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
24          Section 1. Section 4-38-104 is amended to read:
25          4-38-104. Powers and duties of commission.
26          (1) The commission shall:
27          (a) license, regulate, and supervise the persons involved in the racing of horses as

28     provided in this chapter;
29          (b) license, regulate, and supervise the recognized race meets held in this state under
30     the terms of this chapter;
31          (c) cause the various places where recognized race meets are held to be visited and
32     inspected at least once a year;
33          (d) assist in procuring public liability insurance coverage from a private insurance
34     company for those licensees unable to otherwise obtain the insurance required under this
35     chapter;
36          (e) subject to Subsection (5), make rules in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah
37     Administrative Rulemaking Act, to govern race meets, including rules to:
38          (i) [to] resolve scheduling conflicts and settle disputes among licensees;
39          (ii) [to] supervise, discipline, suspend, fine, and bar from events a person required to be
40     licensed by this chapter;
41          (iii) [to] exclude a horse from a racetrack facility in this state, or prohibit a horse from
42     participating in a horse race or race meet; and
43          (iv) [to] hold, conduct, and operate [all] the recognized race meets conducted pursuant
44     to this chapter;
45          (f) determine which persons participating, directly or indirectly, in recognized race
46     meets require licenses;
47          (g) announce the time, place, and duration of a recognized race meet for which a
48     license is required; and
49          (h) establish reasonable fees for [all] the licenses provided for under this chapter.
50          (2) The commission may:
51          (a) grant, suspend, or revoke [licenses] a license issued under this chapter;
52          (b) impose [fines] a fine as provided in this chapter;
53          (c) access criminal history record information for [the licensees and] a licensee and the
54     commission or contracted [employees] employee;
55          (d) exclude from any racetrack facility in this state a person, including an owner, who:
56          (i) the commission considers detrimental to the best interests of racing; or
57          (ii) violates this chapter or any rule or order of the commission; and
58          (e) exclude from a racetrack facility in this state, or prohibit from participating in a

59     horse race or race meet, a horse that is owned, in full or part by a person:
60          (i) who the commission considers detrimental to the best interests of racing; or
61          (ii) who violates this chapter or a rule or order of the commission.
62          (3) (a) For purposes of Subsection (2)(e), ownership includes a horse for which an
63     individual or entity has a beneficial or other interest, as defined by rule.
64          (b) The period of time a horse may be excluded or prohibited from racing under
65     Subsection (2)(e) may not exceed one calendar year from the date of the initial oral or written
66     ruling by the stewards.
67          (c) A change in ownership or beneficial interest in a horse excluded or prohibited from
68     racing under Subsection (2)(e) does not affect the horse's exclusion from a racetrack or
69     prohibition from racing unless otherwise determined by the commission.
70          (4) The commission may contract, in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 6a, Utah
71     Procurement Code, with a person to issue a license required under Subsection (1)(a) or (b).
72          (5) (a) In addition to complying with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative
73     Rulemaking Act, before a change of rule takes effect, the commission shall present the
74     proposed making, amending, or repealing of the rule to:
75          (i) if the Legislature is not in session, the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and
76     Environment Interim Committee; or
77          (ii) if the Legislature is in session, the House of Representatives and Senate Natural
78     Resources, Agriculture, and Environment standing committees.
79          (b) After reviewing the proposed making, amending, or repealing of a rule, the
80     committee described in Subsection (5)(a) may make recommendations regarding the change of
81     rule.