Horse racing : equine postmortem examinations: fatal racehorse injuries.

Existing law, the Horse Racing Law, provides that the California Horse Racing Board has all powers necessary and proper to enable it to carry out fully and effectually the purposes of the Horse Racing Law and requires that the board be responsible for, among other things, adopting rules and regulations for the protection of the public and the control of horse racing and parimutuel wagering, and the administration and enforcement of all laws, rules, and regulations affecting horse racing and parimutuel wagering. A violation of the Horse Racing Law is a crime. Existing regulations of the board require that, if a horse suffers a fatal injury on a racetrack in training or in competition, or dies or is euthanized within an area under the jurisdiction of the board, the horse undergo a postmortem examination at a diagnostic laboratory that is under contract with the board to determine the injury or sickness that resulted in euthanasia or natural death, as provided. Those regulations also provide for additional necropsy examinations requested by the owner or trainer, require the diagnostic laboratory to file a written report with the executive director of the board, the equine medical director, and the official veterinarian upon completion of the postmortem examination, and require that each owner and trainer accept responsibility for the postmortem examination as a requisite for maintaining their occupational license. This bill would codify these provisions as part of the Horse Racing Law. By expanding the scope of the Horse Racing Law, a violation of which is a 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.