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HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The horse and greyhound racing industry in Texas has |
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brought enormous economic benefits to the state's agricultural |
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businesses and local communities over the past two decades; |
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according to the Texas Racing Commission, the industry provides |
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more than 36,000 jobs, $5.5 billion in annual expenditures, $2.5 |
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billion in annual gross product, and $148 million in annual state |
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revenue; and |
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WHEREAS, Even so, in recent years horse and greyhound racing |
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in Texas has struggled to compete with other forms of |
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entertainment; attendance at horse and dog tracks has dropped 35 |
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percent since 1998, and the amount of money wagered on races has |
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fallen 28 percent during that period; and |
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WHEREAS, Several industry groups, including horse and dog |
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owners and trainers and racetrack owners and workers, have |
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expressed a desire to revitalize the industry through innovative |
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advertising and marketing strategies and other initiatives; and |
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WHEREAS, Although the Texas Racing Commission provides |
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regulation and oversight of the racing industry, the commission |
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does not have the statutory authority to promote the very industry |
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it oversees; as a result, another forum is needed to explore ways of |
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stimulating Texas' horse and dog racing programs; now, therefore, |
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be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 81st Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby request the governor to appoint a Governor's Task Force on |
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Horse and Greyhound Racing to: |
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(1) support and promote horse and greyhound racing and |
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breeding programs in Texas; |
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(2) review the Texas Racing Act; |
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(3) establish guidelines for increasing revenue and |
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creating more jobs within the industry; |
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(4) improve the working and living conditions of the |
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people who work and reside in and around the racetracks; and |
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(5) develop methods to enhance participation in and |
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enjoyment of the sport; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the members of the task force be appointed by |
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and serve at the pleasure of the governor, who may designate one |
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member as the chair, and that the chair be authorized to determine |
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the times and places for the task force to meet and to designate |
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subcommittees to address specific issues; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the governor's appointments to the task force |
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include representatives from the training and breeding industries, |
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the business community, the regulatory community, and other experts |
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with an interest in horse and greyhound racing and that the |
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membership also reflect the demographic diversity of the state; |
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and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the governor's office and other state agencies |
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may provide staff and funding to assist the task force in its work |
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and the task force may consult with individuals familiar with the |
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racing industry and may review and consider the horse and greyhound |
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racing industries in other states; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the task force submit a full report, including |
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findings, recommendations, and possible legislation, to the |
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governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of |
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representatives before the convening of the 82nd Legislature on |
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January 11, 2011; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the task force be abolished not later than |
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October 1, 2011. |
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| Miller of Comal |
Miller of Erath |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.C.R. No. 252 was adopted by the House on May |
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24, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 118, Nays 17, 4 present, not |
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voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.C.R. No. 252 was adopted by the Senate on May |
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30, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 24, Nays 6. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: __________________ |
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Date |
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__________________ |
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Governor |