MCL 431.320 Michigan Agriculture and Equine Industry Development Fund; Payments to Programs; Carrying Forward Appropriated and Allotted Money; Deposit In Compulsive Gaming Prevention Fund; Rules; Excess to the Pari-Mutuel Horse Racing Disbursement Account

• Library: Michigan Statutes
• Edition: 2023
• Currency: Current through Public Act 321 of the 2023 Legislative Session
• Year: 2023
• Citation: MCL 431.320

(1) It is the policy of this state to encourage the breeding of horses of all breeds in this state and the ownership of such horses by residents of this state to provide for sufficient numbers of high quality race horses of all breeds to participate in licensed race meetings in this state; to promote the positive growth and development of high quality horse racing and other equine competitions in this state as a business and entertainment activity for residents of this state; and to establish and preserve the substantial agricultural and commercial benefits of the horse racing and breeding industry to this state. It is the intent of the legislature to further this policy by the provisions of this act and annual appropriations to administer this act and adequately fund the agriculture and equine industry programs established by this section.

(2) Money received by the racing commissioner and the state treasurer under this act shall be paid promptly into the state treasury and placed in the Michigan agriculture equine industry development fund created in subsection (3).

(3) The Michigan agriculture equine industry development fund is created in the department of treasury. The Michigan agriculture equine industry development fund shall be administered by the director of the department of agriculture and rural development with the assistance and advice of the racing commissioner.

(4) Money shall not be expended from the Michigan agriculture equine industry development fund except as appropriated by the legislature. Money appropriated by the legislature for the Michigan agriculture equine industry development fund shall be expended by the director of the department of agriculture and rural development with the advice and assistance of the racing commissioner to provide funding for agriculture and equine industry development programs as provided in subsections (5) to (11).

(5) The following amounts shall be paid to standardbred and fair programs:

(a) A sum not to exceed 75% of the purses for standardbred harness horse races offered by fairs and races at licensed pari-mutuel racetracks. Purse supplements paid under this subdivision for overnight races at fairs for which Michigan sired, Michigan bred, or Michigan owned harness horses are eligible must be $1, 000.00. However, if the average purse offered for maiden overnight races of the same breed at any licensed race meeting in this state during the previous year as calculated by the department of agriculture and rural development was less than $1, 000.00, purse supplements for overnight races at fairs paid under this subdivision shall not exceed that average purse.

(b) A sum to be allotted on a matching basis, but not to exceed $15, 000.00each year to a single fair, for the purpose of equipment rental during fairs; ground improvement; constructing, maintaining, and repairing buildings; and making the racetrack more suitable and safe for racing at fairs.

(c) A sum to be allotted for paying special purses at fairs on 2-year-old and 3-year-old standardbred harness horses conceived after January 1, 1992, that is Michigan bred, or that is sired by a standardbred stallion registered with the department of agriculture and rural development, that was leased or owned by a resident or residents of this state, and that did not serve a mare at a location outside of this state from February 1 through July 31 of the calendar year in which the conception occurred. A foal that is born on or after January 1, 2002 of a mare owned by a nonresident of this state and that is conceived outside of this state from transported semen of a stallion registered with the department of agriculture and rural development is eligible for Michigan tax-supported races only if, in the year that the foal is conceived, the department of agriculture and rural development's agent for receiving funds as the holding agent for stakes and futurities is paid a transport fee as determined by the department of agriculture and rural development and administered by the Michigan harness horsemen's association.