CHAPTER 576

S.P. 786 - L.D. 2042

An Act To Amend the Harness Racing Laws Regarding

Distributions from the Fund to Supplement Harness Racing

Purses

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

Whereas, an inequity exists with regard to the timing of disbursements of funds to supplement harness racing purses; and

Whereas, the inequity will have a negative impact on harness racing purses provided at certain agricultural fairs in the 2006 racing season; 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,

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 8 MRSA §298, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 687, Pt. A, §3 and affected by Pt. B, §11, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:

2.__Distribution.__On April 30th, July 30th, October 30th and January 30th of each year, all amounts credited to the fund established by this section as of the last day of the preceding month and not distributed before that day must be distributed to each commercial track, as defined in section 275-A, subsection 1,