§267. Budget; report

1.  Budget.  The commission shall develop or revise a recommended operating budget covering All Other account expenses for the biennium in accordance with this subsection. Funding for the commission is provided entirely from the operating account established in section 267-A.

A. On or before August 1st of even-numbered years the commission shall hold a hearing to make findings regarding and develop its recommended operating budget covering All Other account expenses for the biennium. The commission shall provide notice of the hearing in accordance with Title 5, section 9052, and notice must be provided to persons who receive distributions from the funds established by sections 281, 298, 299 and 300 and Title 7, section 91. Based on the information obtained during the hearing, the commission shall submit to the commissioner as provided in Title 5, section 1665 a budget consistent with this subsection that is sufficient to carry out the provisions of this chapter, and the commissioner shall transmit this budget to the Bureau of the Budget without any revision, alteration or change. The commission shall submit a copy of this budget with any desired comments to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over agricultural matters.   [PL 2017, c. 231, §5 (AMD).]

B. [PL 2017, c. 231, §5 (RP).]

Any budgetary increases proposed by the commission in developing its recommended budget must be reasonable and related to expansion in the number of racing days, the numbers of races held, the expansion of programs and activities as recommended by the commission or inflation.

[PL 2017, c. 231, §5 (AMD).]

2.  Report.  Beginning February 15, 2019, and annually thereafter, the commission shall submit a report to the commissioner and the joint standing committees of the Legislature having jurisdiction over slot machines, harness racing, agricultural fairs and appropriations and financial affairs. This report must include an account of the commission's operations and actions, a report of its financial position, including receipts and disbursements, an account of the practical effects of application of this chapter and any recommended legislation. The operations report must include the number and types of violations of racing laws and rules, the disposition of those violations and the amount of time required for their disposition, including a history of any appeals. The report must include the date and amount of each administrative assessment withdrawn in accordance with section 267-A from each of the assessed funds under section 267-A, subsection 4. The report must include an account of the commission's operations and actions regarding the promotion of harness racing, a summary of income and expenses of the Harness Racing Promotional Fund, including any receipts and disbursements, and an assessment of the economic condition of the harness racing industry in this State.

[PL 2017, c. 371, §2 (AMD).]

SECTION HISTORY

PL 1991, c. 579, §8 (RPR). PL 1997, c. 528, §9 (AMD). PL 2007, c. 539, Pt. G, §§4, 5 (AMD). PL 2007, c. 539, Pt. G, §15 (AFF). PL 2017, c. 231, §5 (AMD). PL 2017, c. 371, §2 (AMD).