An Act To Amend the Laws Concerning Reciprocal Disciplinary Actions in Harness Racing and Pulling Events

Emergency preamble. Whereas,  acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and

Whereas,  the harness racing season begins in late March and the fair season takes place beginning in the summer months and will likely commence before 90 days after adjournment; and

Whereas,  the provisions of this bill are important to protect the integrity of the harness racing and pulling events in the State; 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,

Sec. 1. 7 MRSA §102  is enacted to read:

§ 102.  Reciprocal disciplinary action

The department shall obtain current listings from other jurisdictions of persons who have been suspended or barred from pulling competitions. The department shall refuse to allow any person who has been suspended or barred from pulling competitions in another jurisdiction to compete in any pulling competition until the department receives notification from the jurisdiction that has suspended or barred the person from pulling competitions that the person is again eligible to compete in pulling competitions in that jurisdiction.

Sec. 2. 8 MRSA §283,  as amended by PL 2003, c. 401, §16, is further amended to read:

§ 283. Reciprocal disciplinary action

The department shall act to obtain current listings from other racing jurisdictions of persons in harness racing occupations regulated by the racing jurisdiction commission who have been refused a license or who have had their license revoked or suspended. The commission shall refuse to license or shall suspend the license of these persons any person who has been refused a license or who has had that person's license revoked or suspended in another jurisdiction until notification from the jurisdiction that refused to license or suspended or revoked the license of the person that they are the person is again eligible for licensing in the racing that jurisdiction or racing jurisdictions in question.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.

summary

This bill requires the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to obtain current listings from other jurisdictions of people who have been suspended or barred from agricultural pulling competitions and requires the department to suspend or bar from pulling competitions any person in those listings until the department receives notification from the jurisdiction that suspended or barred the person that the person is no longer suspended or barred. This bill also amends the reciprocal disciplinary action provision in harness racing for people in the harness racing industry who have been refused a license or have had their licenses suspended or revoked in another jurisdiction by clarifying certain language in that provision.