| TO: | Honorable Wayne Smith, Chair, House Committee On Licensing & Administrative Procedures |
| FROM: | Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | HB1187 by Thompson, Senfronia (Relating to the power of stewards or judges to impose penalties under the Texas Racing Act; providing penalties.), As Introduced |
The bill would amend the Texas Racing Act relating to the power of stewards or judges to impose penalties. The bill would increase the maximum fine that could be included in a penalty imposed by a race steward or judge for unethical practices or violations of racing rules from $5,000 to $25,000. In cases where the executive director of the Racing Commission modifies the penalty decision of a race steward or judge, the bill would increase the maximum fine from $10,000 to $100,000. The bill would also increase the maximum suspension of service for these violations to five years.
Revenue collected from fines for violations and unethical practices outlined in the bill is deposited to the General Revenue-Dedicated-Texas Racing Commission Fund. Based on information provided by the Racing Commission, maximum fines have rarely been assessed by stewards or judges and the Executive Director has never enhanced any penalties. The agency also does not anticipate increasing the number of penalties that would be assessed based on the provisions of the bill. For the purposes of this analysis, it is assumed that there would not be a significant revenue increase due to implementing the provisions of the bill. Also based on information provided by the Racing Commission and Texas A&M AgriLife Research, it is assumed that the duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be accomplished by utilizing existing resources.
| Source Agencies: | 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 476 Racing Commission, 556 Texas A&M AgriLife Research
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| LBB Staff: | UP, RB, MW, ED
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