[Text of section effective until July 31, 2021. Repealed by 2011, 194, Sec. 39. See 2011, 194, Sec. 112 as amended by 2014, 165, Sec. 192; 2016, 176, Sec. 12B; 2017, 56, Sec. 14; 2018, 159, Sec. 14; 2019, 47, Sec. 14; 2020, 1, Sec. 14; and 2020, 106, Sec. 14.]
Section 5B. (a) One-quarter of one per cent of the total amount deposited at all racing meetings by the patrons wagering at such meetings shall be used to reimburse the commonwealth for funds appropriated by the general court for the operation and general administration of the commission for the fiscal year next following the calendar year in which said total amount was wagered. Said one-quarter of one per cent shall be retained by the commission from the sums paid daily to the commission pursuant to section five and shall be deposited in the General Fund.
(b) The commission is hereby authorized to make an assessment in each fiscal year against each licensee conducting a racing meeting in the commonwealth. Said assessment shall be made at a rate as shall be determined and certified annually by the commission as sufficient to produce revenue to reimburse the commonwealth for funds appropriated for the operation of the commission, including amounts sufficient to cover the cost of fringe benefits as established by the commissioner of administration pursuant to section six B of chapter twenty-nine; provided, however, that the total assessment for all licensees, not including the revenues received pursuant to paragraph (a), shall not exceed seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Said assessment shall be made proportionately against each licensee on the basis of the amount withheld by each licensee less the sum paid to the commission as determined by section five. Each licensee against whom an assessment is made shall pay over daily to the commission a pro rata share of the assessment determined by dividing the total assessment of that license by the number of dates granted to the licensee pursuant to section three. If the commission fails to expend in any fiscal year the total amount assessed under this paragraph, any amount unexpended shall be credited against the assessment to be made in the following year and the assessment in such following year shall be reduced by such unexpended amount; provided, however that, if no racing dates are granted in the following year to any licensee, the portion of unexpended funds due such licensee as a credit shall, at the request of such licensee to the state treasurer, be refunded.
Structure Massachusetts General Laws
Part I - Administration of the Government
Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation
Chapter 128a - Horse and Dog Racing Meetings
Section 2 - Application for License; Filing; Supplementary Application
Section 3 - Issuance of License; Contents; Conditions; Bond; Recording
Section 5 - Pari-Mutuel or Certificate System of Wagering; Licensee's Duties
Section 5a - Recovery of Winnings Upon Wagers; Actions; Unclaimed Winnings
Section 5b - Assessment for Operation of Commission; Refund
Section 5c - Account Wagering System; Betting Accounts; Licensee's Duties; Penalties
Section 6 - Records and Books of Wagers; Access; Financial Statements; Statements of Wagers
Section 9 - Power of Commission to Make Rules and Regulations
Section 9b - Rules and Regulations of the Commission; Emergency Rules and Regulations
Section 10a - Exclusion of Certain Persons
Section 10b - Falsely Making, Altering, Forging, Uttering or Publishing Pari-Mutuel Betting Tickets
Section 11 - Refusal to Grant, Suspension or Revocation of License
Section 11c - Sale of Ten per Cent or More of Stock; Notice; Approval
Section 12 - Compliance With Chapter
Section 13 - Penalties for Wagering or Betting at Race Track Except as Permitted by Chapter
Section 13b - Use of Drugs to Affect Speed of Dogs or Horses
Section 13c - Influencing Owner, Trainer, Jockey or Agent to Affect Result of Race
Section 14 - Granting Licenses; Petitions; Ballots; Vote of County
Section 14b - Additional Question on Ballots in Berkshire County
Section 14c - Additional Question on Ballots in Hampshire County