(a) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (b), any redistributable money in a parimutuel pool subject to payment to a claimant pursuant to Section 19598, but not successfully claimed within that period, shall be paid to the board, as follows:
(A) An estimated payment equal to 20 percent of the preceding year’s unclaimed redistributable money paid pursuant to this paragraph shall be paid to the board on July 1, October 1, January 1, and April 1, or the next business day thereafter.
(B) On May 30, or the next business day thereafter, of the year following the close of a horse racing meeting, the association shall pay to the board all of the redistributable funds that are owed it pursuant to this paragraph, less estimated payments made pursuant to subparagraph (A).
(2) The money received by the board under this subdivision resulting from thoroughbred, harness, or quarter horse meetings, but excluding the meetings of the California Exposition and State Fair or of a county, district agricultural association, or citrus fruit fair, shall be used by the board to support research on matters pertaining to horse racing and racetrack security, but the money shall be subject to annual budgetary review by the Legislature. All of the redistributable money received by the board from other meetings shall be paid immediately into the State Treasury to the credit of the General Fund.
(b) (1) One-half of the redistributable money resulting from the thoroughbred, harness, or quarter horse meetings, but excluding the meetings of the California Exposition and State Fair or county, district agricultural association, or citrus fruit fair meetings, shall be distributed to a welfare fund established for the benefit of horsemen and horsewomen and backstretch personnel, as follows:
(A) An estimated payment equal to 20 percent of the preceding year’s unclaimed redistributable money distributed pursuant to this paragraph shall be distributed to the welfare fund on July 1, October 1, January 1, and April 1, or the next business day thereafter.
(B) On May 30, or the next business day thereafter, of the year following the close of a horse racing meeting, the association shall pay to the welfare fund all of the redistributable funds that are owed it pursuant to this paragraph, less estimated payments made pursuant to subparagraph (A).
(2) The welfare fund shall make an accounting to the board within one calendar year of the receipt of the payment.
(3) Upon approval of the board, moneys under this subdivision may be used to provide treatment for, and support the health care needs of, licensees under this chapter, employees of racing associations, and members of horsemen’s and horsewomen’s organizations and other racing-related charitable organizations representing or assisting backstretch personnel, if the need for the treatment and support is related to the person’s participation in the horse racing industry.
(c) Except as provided in subdivision (a) or (b), any remaining redistributable money in a parimutuel pool subject to payment to a claimant pursuant to Section 19598, but not successfully claimed within the period specified in that section, shall be distributed one-half to the board, for the purposes specified and in the manner specified in subdivision (a), and one-half to the welfare fund established by the horsemen’s and horsewomen’s organization described in subdivision (b) in the manner specified in subdivision (b).
(Amended by Stats. 2017, Ch. 420, Sec. 3. (AB 1723) Effective January 1, 2018.)
Last modified: October 25, 2018