Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §1590 is enacted to read:

§1590.__Working capital advances

The State Controller is authorized to advance to the State Harness Racing Commission up to $250,000 from the General Fund unappropriated surplus for any necessary start-up costs associated with the implementation of a system of video lottery terminals in the State pursuant to Title 17, chapter 16.__Funds advanced for this purpose must be returned to the General Fund unappropriated surplus from the first $250,000 received by the State under Title 17, section 383.

Sec. 2. 7 MRSA §76 is enacted to read:

§76.__Agricultural Fair Support Fund

1.__Fund created.__The Treasurer of State shall establish an account to be known as the "Agricultural Fair Support Fund" and shall credit to it all money received for that purpose under Title 17, section 383, subsection 1, paragraph F.

2.__Disbursement.__No later than January 31st of each year, all funds held from the previous calendar year in the Agricultural Fair Support Fund must be distributed by the Treasurer of State as follows.

A.__Forty-eight percent of these funds must be divided equally among all entities licensed as agricultural fairs by the department that during the previous year were licensed to and did accept pari-mutuel wagers on harness horse races.__ The funds must be used by the fairs to improve their facilities.

B.__Forty-two percent of these funds must be divided equally among all entities licensed as agricultural fairs by the department that during the previous year did not accept pari-mutuel wagers on harness horse races.__The funds must be used by the fairs to improve their facilities.

C.__Ten percent of these funds must be divided among all entities licensed as agricultural fairs by the department in the same proportion as money distributed under section 62, except that no portion of the money may be allocated for administrative expenses.

Sec. 3. 8 MRSA §275-N, as amended by PL 1997, c. 528, §33, is further amended to read: