PRINTER'S NO. 913
No. 810 Session of 1975
INTRODUCED BY O'BRIEN, O'CONNELL, MUSTO, RIEGER, McINTYRE,
MYERS AND GOODMAN, MARCH 18, 1975
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, MARCH 19, 1975
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of December 11, 1967 (P.L.707, No.331),
2 entitled "An act providing for and regulating thoroughbred
3 horse racing with pari-mutuel wagering on the results
4 thereof, creating the State Horse Racing Commission as an
5 independent administrative commission and defining its powers
6 and duties; providing for the establishment and operation of
7 thoroughbred horse racing plants; imposing taxes on revenues
8 of such plants; disposing of all moneys received by the
9 commission and all moneys collected from the taxes;
10 authorizing penalties; and making appropriations," providing
11 compensation for the State Horse Racing Commission.
12 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
13 hereby enacts as follows:
14 Section 1. Section 1, act of December 11, 1967 (P.L.707,
15 No.331), entitled "An act providing for and regulating
16 thoroughbred horse racing with pari-mutuel wagering on the
17 results thereof, creating the State Horse Racing Commission as
18 an independent administrative commission and defining its powers
19 and duties; providing for the establishment and operation of
20 thoroughbred horse racing plants; imposing taxes on revenues of
21 such plants; disposing of all moneys received by the commission
22 and all moneys collected from the taxes; authorizing penalties;
1 and making appropriations," is amended to read:
2 Section 1. State Horse Racing Commission.--The State Horse
3 Racing Commission is hereby established as an independent
4 administrative commission, and it shall have general
5 jurisdiction over all pari-mutuel thoroughbred horse racing
6 activities in the State and the corporations engaged therein.
7 For the purposes of this act, "thoroughbred horse racing" shall
8 mean that form of horse racing in which each participating horse
9 is mounted by a jockey and engages in races on the flat but does
10 not include a steeplechase or hurdle race. Such commission shall
11 consist of three members who shall be appointed by the Governor,
12 by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Governor
13 shall designate one of the members as chairman of the
14 commission. The chairman of such commission shall hold office
15 for a term of three years, and the other two members shall hold
16 office for terms of one and two years respectively as designated
17 by the Governor. Thereafter their successors shall be appointed
18 for a full term of three years. Such commissioners shall receive
19 [no] a salary [but] of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each
20 member and ten thousand five hundred dollars ($10,500) for the
21 chairman and shall be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the
22 performance of their official duties. The commission shall
23 appoint such deputies, secretaries, officers, representatives
24 and counsel as it may deem necessary, who shall serve during its
25 pleasure, and shall also appoint such employes it may deem
26 necessary and whose duties shall be prescribed by the commission
27 and whose compensation shall be fixed by the commission within
28 the appropriations available therefor. It shall be the duty of
29 the secretary to keep a full and faithful record of the
30 proceedings of such commission, preserve at the general office
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1 of such commission all books, maps, documents, and papers
2 entrusted to his care, prepare for service such papers and
3 notices as may be required of him by the commission, and perform
4 such other duties as the commission may prescribe. It shall be
5 the duty of the secretary to keep, at the offices of the
6 commission, a docket setting forth the names of all stockholders
7 in all corporations licensed under this act, the number of
8 shares held by each such stockholder, and the date on which each
9 shareholder acquired his stock in the corporate licensee. Such
10 docket shall be open for public inspection. The commission, or
11 such officers, employes or agents of the commission as may be
12 designated by the commission for such purpose, shall have the
13 power to administer oaths and examine witnesses, and may issue
14 subpoenas to compel attendance of witnesses, and the production
15 of all relevant and material reports, books, papers, documents,
16 correspondence, and other evidence. Such commission shall,
17 annually, by March 1, make a full report to the Governor of its
18 proceedings for the preceding calendar year and such suggestions
19 and recommendations as it shall deem desirable.
20 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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