HSB 641

This bill concerns horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering under the control of the racing and gaming commission.7 provides that the racing and gaming commission shall regulate the purse structure for race meetings. The bill provides that of purse moneys dedicated for thoroughbred racing, percent, and not percent, shall be distributed to an organization representing owners of thoroughbred race horses.27A creates an Iowa race horse aftercare organization assistance fund in the state treasury under the control of the racing and gaming commission. The fund shall consist of fines collected by the commission under Code chapter 99D and such other moneys as may be deposited in the fund. The bill provides that moneys in the fund shall be distributed by the commission to organizations, exempt from federal income taxation under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, that are dedicated to race horse aftercare. The bill provides that the commission shall determine the method by which moneys shall be distributed, with priority given to organizations primarily involved in rehabilitation, retraining, and rehoming of former race horses that raced in the state of Iowa that have governing boards comprised of pari-mutuel industry occupational license holders. The bill limits distributions to organizations shown to have been in existence for a minimum of three years. _____ members of the commission, employees of the commission, and any individual that the commission had assist in the distribution determination harmless against any claim arising out of the distribution of the moneys from the fund by the commission.