Bill > SB1296

This bill amends the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975 by removing a specific provision that previously required the Director of the Department of Agriculture to publish a notice in publications devoted to standardbred horse news when certain violations were discovered. Specifically, the deleted language concerned situations where a standardbred stallion was found to not be owned by an Illinois resident, or where ownership transfers appeared to be a subterfuge to qualify the stallion under the Act, or if the stallion owner knowingly arranged to transport semen out of state. The bill replaces this extensive publication requirement with a more general provision that if any person owning a stallion, mare, or foal is found to have willfully violated the Act or made false statements, then no animal owned by that person would be eligible to participate in events conducted under Sections 30 and 31 of the Act. The bill maintains the Department of Agriculture's authority to investigate horse eligibility, conduct hearings, and enforce regulations related to standardbred and thoroughbred racing programs, while simplifying the penalties for potential violations.

Government Affairs

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=1296&GAID=18&DocTypeID=SB&SessionID=114&GA=104