Massachusetts General Laws
Chapter 128a - Horse and Dog Racing Meetings
Section 5b - Assessment for Operation of Commission; Refund

[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 Repealed by 2011, 194, Sec. 39.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

Massachusetts General Laws

Part I - Administration of the Government

Title XIX - Agriculture and Conservation

Chapter 128a - Horse and Dog Racing Meetings

Section 1 - Definitions

Section 2 - Application for License; Filing; Supplementary Application

Section 3 - Issuance of License; Contents; Conditions; Bond; Recording

Section 4 - Fees; Refund

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 7 - Stewards to Conduct Racing Meetings; Representatives; Access; Authority; Reports; Violations

Section 8 - Assignment of Police Officers at Racing Meetings; Approval; Cost; Employment of Veterinarians, Chemists and Laboratory Technicians

Section 8a - Periodic Inspections of Installations and Facilities Operated by Licensees; Supervision of Stewards, Judges and Starters

Section 9 - Power of Commission to Make Rules and Regulations

Section 9a - Licensing and Registering of Agents, Veterinarians, Blacksmiths, Owners, Trainers, Jockeys and Stable Employees; Badges; Suspension and Revocation; Criminal Records

Section 9b - Rules and Regulations of the Commission; Emergency Rules and Regulations

Section 10 - Wagering at Racing Meetings by Minors; Citizenship Requirement for Employees of Licensees

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 13a - Application of Laws to Race Tracks or Racing Meetings; Exception; Approval of Locations

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

Section 14d - Granting Licenses; Election Results; Copy

Section 14e - Dog Racing Prohibited; Penalty