2012 Maine Revised Statutes
TITLE 8: AMUSEMENTS AND SPORTS
Chapter 11: HARNESS RACING
8 §267. Budget; report

§267. Budget; report

1. Budget. The commission shall develop or revise a recommended operating budget for each fiscal year of 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 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, to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over appropriations and financial affairs and to the Executive Director of the Legislative Council. [2007, c. 539, Pt. G, §15 (AFF); 2007, c. 539, Pt. G, §4 (NEW).]

B. On or before August 1st of odd-numbered years the commission shall hold a hearing to make findings regarding and develop any revisions to its budget for the second fiscal year of 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. After the hearing, the commission may submit to the commissioner any recommended revisions to its budget, and the commissioner shall transmit these changes to the Bureau of the Budget without any revision, alteration or change. The commission shall submit a copy of this revised budget with any desired comments to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over agricultural matters, to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over appropriations and financial affairs and to the Executive Director of the Legislative Council. [2007, c. 539, Pt. G, §15 (AFF); 2007, c. 539, Pt. G, §4 (NEW).]

Any budgetary increases proposed by the commission in developing its recommended budget for fiscal year 2010 and thereafter must be reasonable and related to expansion in the number of racing days, the numbers of races held, the need to maintain competitive salaries, or inflation.

[ 2007, c. 539, Pt. G, §15 (AFF); 2007, c. 539, Pt. G, §4 (RPR) .]

2. Report. By May 1st annually, the commission shall make a report to the commissioner with copies to the Governor, the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over agricultural matters and the Executive Director of the Legislative Council. This report must include an account of the commission's operations and actions, a report of its financial position, including receipts, 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.

[ 2007, c. 539, Pt. G, §15 (AFF); 2007, c. 539, Pt. G, §5 (AMD) .]

SECTION HISTORY

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