109 HR 6158 IH: To amend the Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978 to U.S. House of Representatives 2006-09-21 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I 109th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6158 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 21, 2006 Mr. Whitfield (for himself and Mr. Stupak) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To amend the Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978 to require, as a condition to the consent for off-track wagering, that horsemen’s groups and host racing commissions offer insurance coverage for professional jockeys and other horseracing personnel, and for other purposes.

1.

Condition for consent of off-track wagering

(a)

Requirement

Section 5(a) of the Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978 (15 U.S.C. 3004(a)) is amended— (1)in paragraph (1)— (A)by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (C); (B)by adding after subparagraph (A) the following: (B)that as a condition precedent to such consent (except in a State where jockeys, exercise riders, or backside personnel and trainers are included in a State worker’s compensation program under the laws or regulations of such State effective on June 30, 2006) the terms and conditions of the agreement described in subparagraph (A) provide that not less than 50 percent of any amount received by the horsemen’s group under such agreement be paid by the horsemen’s group to the host racing commission for the purpose of the host racing commission offering insurance coverage for professional jockeys, exercise riders, and backside personnel and trainers; and provided further, ; and (2)in paragraph (2), by inserting before the semicolon the following: , including the consent of such commission to offer insurance coverage with the funds obtained by such commission based on the terms and conditions of the written agreement as set forth in paragraph (1)(B). (b)

Definition

Section 3 of the Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978 (15 U.S.C. 3002) is amended— (1)in paragraph (22), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; (2)by adding after paragraph (22) the following new paragraphs: (23)insurance coverage means health and injury insurance for jockeys, exercise riders, and backside personnel and trainers who are employed or under contract for training or horseracing in the State of the host racing association and who may be injured in the performance of their official duties while so employed or under contract; (24)exercise rider means an individual employed as a rider by a horse trainer or any other person to assist in the exercising and training of a horse for horseracing; and (25)jockey means a professional jockey who is licensed by one or more State to compete as a rider in horseracing. . (c)

Amendment to findings

Section 2(a) of the Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978 (15 U.S.C. 3001(a)) is amended— (1)in paragraph (2), by striking ; and and inserting a semicolon; (2)in paragraph (3), by striking the period and inserting ; and; and (3)by adding at the end the following: (3)there is a need for the Federal government, in ensuring such cooperation, to ensure that jockeys, exercise riders, and backside personnel and trainers who may be injured in the performance of their official duties while employed or under contract in horseracing receive insurance coverage. .

2.

Prohibition on steroids

The Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978 (15 U.S.C. 3001 et seq.) is further amended— (1)by redesignating sections 6 through 9 as sections 7 through 10, respectively; (2)in section 8(a) (as so redesignated), by striking with section 6. and inserting with section 7. A jockey, exercise rider, or trainer or other backside personnel may bring such an action for a violation of the condition in section 5(a)(1)(B) or a violation of section 6.; and (3)by inserting after section 5 the following:

6.

Prohibition on steroids

No person may enter a horse in any horserace that is the subject of an interstate off-track wager if such horse has been given anabolic steroids of any kind. The appropriate host racing commission shall develop procedures for and administer appropriate testing for the presence of anabolic steroids.

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