Maine Revised Statutes
Chapter 11: HARNESS RACING
8 §279-A. Licenses, rules and regulations for participating in racing

§279-A. Licenses, rules and regulations for participating in racing
For the purpose of enabling the commission to exercise and maintain a proper control over racing conducted under this chapter, the commission may adopt rules for the licensing, with or without fee in the discretion of the commission, of owners, trainers, drivers, grooms and all other persons participating in harness racing, including pari-mutuel employees and race officials. The commission may issue conditional licenses to owners, trainers, drivers, grooms and all other persons participating in harness racing, including pari-mutuel employees and race officials, if one or more criteria are not met as contained in the commission rules. A person issued a license as a trainer shall submit a horse for testing in accordance with section 279‑E.   [PL 2019, c. 283, §1 (AMD).]
The commission, in consultation with the department, shall set licensing and license renewal fees sufficient to carry out the administration and enforcement of the licensing program. These fees may not exceed $100 annually. The department shall provide public access to the harness racing statutes and rules.   [PL 2019, c. 283, §1 (AMD).]
The commission may adopt rules for the conduct on the race track and grounds of owners, trainers, drivers, grooms and all other persons participating in harness racing. The rules must be reasonably necessary for any one or more of the following purposes: to protect the wagering public, to protect the State's share of pari-mutuel pools, to protect the health and welfare of spectators and participating owners, trainers, drivers, grooms and all other persons participating in harness racing, including pari-mutuel employees and race officials, and to protect the health and welfare of standardbred horses.   [PL 2019, c. 283, §1 (AMD).]
The commission may adopt rules establishing allowable levels of permitted medications carried in the body of a horse while participating in races licensed by the commission. In addition, the commission may adopt rules establishing prohibited substances that may not be present in the body of a horse while participating in races licensed by the commission.   [PL 2019, c. 283, §1 (NEW).]
The District Court Judge may revoke or suspend any license for violations of this chapter or the rules.   [PL 1991, c. 579, §13 (AMD); PL 1999, c. 547, Pt. B, §78 (AMD); PL 1999, c. 547, Pt. B, §80 (AFF).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1967, c. 212 (NEW). PL 1973, c. 303, §3 (AMD). PL 1975, c. 35 (RPR). PL 1991, c. 579, §13 (AMD). PL 1991, c. 677, §1 (AMD). PL 1997, c. 528, §40 (AMD). PL 1999, c. 482, §3 (AMD). PL 1999, c. 547, §B78 (AMD). PL 1999, c. 547, §B80 (AFF). PL 2007, c. 611, §6 (AMD). PL 2019, c. 283, §1 (AMD).

Structure Maine Revised Statutes

Maine Revised Statutes

TITLE 8: AMUSEMENTS AND SPORTS

Chapter 11: HARNESS RACING

8 §261. Commission (REPEALED)

8 §261-A. Commission

8 §262. Organization

8 §263. Offices

8 §263-A. Commission responsibilities

8 §263-B. Department responsibilities

8 §263-C. Executive director (REALLOCATED FROM TITLE 8, SECTION 263-A)

8 §264. Employees

8 §265. Compensation

8 §266. Disbursements

8 §267. Budget; report

8 §267-A. Operating account for the commission

8 §268. Rules

8 §269. Races

8 §270. Licenses

8 §270-A. Confidentiality of records and information

8 §271. Issuance of licenses for the conduct of racing

8 §272. Bonds

8 §272-A. Trust account (REPEALED)

8 §272-B. Association funding

8 §272-C. Trust account

8 §273. Penalties

8 §274. Pari-mutuel pools (REPEALED)

8 §274-A. Off-track betting (REPEALED)

8 §275. Taxes (REPEALED)

8 §275-A. Definitions

8 §275-B. Sale of pari-mutuel pools

8 §275-C. Common pari-mutuel pools

8 §275-D. Off-track betting

8 §275-E. Limit on total commission

8 §275-F. Amounts payable to the Stipend Fund (REPEALED)

8 §275-G. Amounts payable to Sire Stakes Fund (REPEALED)

8 §275-H. Amounts payable to General Fund (REPEALED)

8 §275-I. Amounts payable to supplement purses (REPEALED)

8 §275-J. Amounts payable to or retained by racetracks (REPEALED)

8 §275-K. Amounts retained by off-track betting facility (REPEALED)

8 §275-L. Amounts deposited in Harness Racing Promotional Fund (REPEALED)

8 §275-M. Amounts payable to the State Harness Racing Commission (REPEALED)

8 §275-N. Limitations on off-track betting facilities

8 §275-O. Reduced payments

8 §276. Payments

8 §276-A. Unclaimed ticket money

8 §276-B. Commercial track ceases operation; entitled to funds

8 §277. Records

8 §278. Minors

8 §279. Supervision; investigations

8 §279-A. Licenses, rules and regulations for participating in racing

8 §279-B. Fines, suspensions and revocations

8 §279-C. Officials, judges and starters; powers and duties

8 §279-D. Insurance

8 §279-E. Trainers; duty to submit a horse for testing for use of prohibited substances

8 §280. Use of drugs or appliances; prearrangement of results; veterinarian

8 §281. Standard-bred horses

8 §281-A. Standardbred horses eligible for registration

8 §281-B. Registration of stallions (REPEALED)

8 §282. Enforcement

8 §283. Reciprocal disciplinary action

8 §284. Harness Racing Promotional Board (REPEALED)

8 §285. Harness Racing Promotional Board (REPEALED)

8 §285-A. Bargaining agent (REPEALED)

8 §285-B. Dispute resolution; exclusive bargaining agent and racetrack (REPEALED)

8 §286. Calculation of distribution of commission

8 §287. Payment of state share

8 §288. Payment to Sire Stakes Fund share

8 §289. Payment to Stipend Fund share

8 §290. Purse supplement

8 §291. Harness Racing Promotional Fund share

8 §292. Horsemen's purse share

8 §293. Track share

8 §294. Off-track betting facility share

8 §295. Off-track betting facility simulcast fund share

8 §296. Fund to supplement harness racing purses (REPEALED)

8 §297. Working capital advance (REPEALED)

8 §298. Fund to supplement harness racing purses

8 §299. Fund to Encourage Racing at Maine's Commercial Tracks

8 §299-A. Harness Racing Promotional Fund

8 §300. Fund to Stabilize Off-track Betting Facilities

8 §300-A. Illegal wagering

8 §300-B. Interception of pari-mutuel winnings to pay child support debt