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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the use of proceeds deposited to the horse industry |
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account for law enforcement purposes. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 2028.202(b), Occupations Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) From the total amount deducted under Subsection (a), a |
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greyhound racetrack association that receives an interstate |
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cross-species simulcast signal shall distribute the following |
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amounts from each pari-mutuel pool wagered on the signal at the |
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racetrack: |
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(1) a fee of 1.5 percent to be paid to the racetrack in |
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this state sending the signal; |
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(2) a purse in the amount of 0.75 percent to be paid to |
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the official state horse breed registry for Thoroughbred horses for |
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use as purses at racetracks in this state; |
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(3) a purse in the amount of 0.75 percent to be paid to |
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the official state horse breed registry for quarter horses for use |
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as purses at racetracks in this state; and |
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(4) an amount equal to [a purse of] 4.5 percent of the |
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pool to be deposited [escrowed] with the commission in the manner |
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provided by Section 2028.204. |
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SECTION 2. Sections 2028.203 and 2028.204, Occupations |
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Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 2028.203. REIMBURSEMENT FOR SIMULCAST SIGNAL COST. If |
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a racetrack association purchases an interstate simulcast signal |
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and the signal cost exceeds five percent of the pari-mutuel pool, |
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the commission, from the amount set aside [escrowed account] under |
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Section 2028.202(b)(4), shall reimburse the racetrack association |
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an amount equal to one-half of the signal cost that exceeds five |
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percent of the pari-mutuel pool. |
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Sec. 2028.204. USE [ALLOCATION] OF MONEY IN HORSE INDUSTRY |
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ACCOUNT [ESCROW ACCOUNTS]. (a) A greyhound racetrack association |
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shall deposit into an [escrow] account in the commission's registry |
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the amount [purse] set aside under Section 2028.202(b)(4). |
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(b) The commission shall use [Any horse racetrack |
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association in this state may apply to the commission for receipt |
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of] money in the horse industry [escrow] account only for law |
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enforcement purposes [use as purses]. [Any state horse breed |
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registry listed in Section 2030.002(a) may apply for receipt of |
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money in the account for any event that furthers the horse industry. |
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The commission: |
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[(1) shall determine the horse racetrack associations |
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and state horse breed registries to be allocated money from the |
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account and the percentages to be allocated, taking into |
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consideration purse levels, racing opportunities, and the |
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financial status of the requesting racetrack association or |
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requesting breed registry; and |
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[(2) may not annually allocate more than 70 percent of |
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the amount deposited into the account to horse racetrack |
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associations for use as purses.] |
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SECTION 3. Section 2028.2041, Occupations Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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Sec. 2028.2041. ALLOCATION OF CERTAIN FUNDS. (a) In each |
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state fiscal biennium, the comptroller shall deposit the amounts |
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allocated under Section 151.801(c-3), Tax Code, into the [escrow] |
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account established under Section 2028.204(b), until the |
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comptroller determines the amount deposited into the account in |
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that fiscal biennium equals the greater of: |
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(1) the amount appropriated to the commission for the |
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purposes of Section 2028.204 for that fiscal biennium; or |
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(2) $50 million. |
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(b) Once the comptroller determines the greater of the |
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amount described by Subsection (a)(1) or (2) has been deposited |
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during a state fiscal biennium into the [escrow] account |
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established under Section 2028.204(b), for the remainder of that |
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fiscal biennium the comptroller shall deposit the amounts allocated |
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under Section 151.801(c-3), Tax Code, into the general revenue |
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fund. |
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(c) The balance of the [escrow] account established under |
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Section 2028.204(b) shall not exceed $50 million. |
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SECTION 4. Section 2031.004(e), Occupations Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(e) The commission may not: |
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(1) use funds from the accredited Texas-bred program |
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under Subchapter A, Chapter 2030, or the horse industry [escrowed |
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purse] account under Section 2028.204 to fund the Texas Derby |
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escrow purse fund; or |
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(2) order a state horse breed registry to fund a purse |
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for a Texas Derby, make contributions to the Texas Derby escrow |
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purse fund, or pay the expenses of a Texas Derby race. |
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SECTION 5. Section 151.801(c-3), Tax Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(c-3) Subject to the limitation imposed under Section |
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2028.2041, Occupations Code, an amount equal to the proceeds from |
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the collection of the taxes imposed by this chapter on the sale, |
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storage, or use of horse feed, horse supplements, horse tack, horse |
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bedding and grooming supplies, and other taxable expenditures |
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directly related to horse ownership, riding, or boarding shall be |
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deposited to the credit of the [escrow] account administered by the |
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Texas Racing Commission and established under Section 2028.204, |
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Occupations Code. |
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SECTION 6. Section 2028.205, Occupations Code, is repealed. |
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SECTION 7. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |