Horse racing: takeouts: disclosure to patrons.

Existing law, the Horse Racing Law, authorizes racing associations and fairs to make various deductions from the amounts handled, and specifies the manner in which the amounts deducted are required to be distributed. A violation of the Horse Racing Law, where no other penalty is expressed, is a misdemeanor. This bill would require each racing association or fair to inform patrons, through the official program, of the takeout being applied to the handle for the racing meeting. By creating a new crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.