Sec. 8. (a) Except as provided in subsection (c), the commission may issue or deny a permit to an applicant to conduct a horse racing meeting after the proper filing of:

(1) an application for a permit; and

(2) the other information required by this chapter.

The commission shall meet as soon as practicable after the filing of the application and other information for the purpose of acting on the application.

(b) The commission may deny a permit to:

(1) any applicant if denial of the permit is in the public interest;

(2) a permit holder that has defaulted in payments to the public or an employee, a vendor, a supplier, an owner, or a trainer; or

(3) the purchaser of a track from a permit holder described in subdivision (2) if defaults at that track have not been satisfied by either the seller or the purchaser.

(c) The commission shall deny a permit to:

(1) a permit holder that has defaulted in payments to the state;

(2) the purchaser of a track from a permit holder described in subdivision (1), if defaults at that track have not been satisfied by either the seller or the purchaser; or

(3) a person, an association, a trust, a limited liability company, or a corporation that owns, or has one (1) or more members or stockholders who own, an interest in any other permit issued by the commission in the same year for any other racetrack in Indiana, unless the commission finds that it is in the best interests of the:

(A) Indiana horse racing industry; and

(B) state;

to issue a permit to that person, association, trust, limited liability company, or corporation.

(d) The commission may not issue a permit that would allow pari-mutuel racing to be conducted at the same hour at two (2) or more locations in the same county or adjacent counties.

(e) A permit issued under this section is valid from January 1 to December 31 of the year for which it is issued. An application must be made for a renewal of a permit.

As added by P.L.341-1989(ss), SEC.2. Amended by P.L.24-1992, SEC.14; P.L.8-1993, SEC.40; P.L.14-2011, SEC.1.