130th MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST REGULAR SESSION-2021
Legislative Document No. 860
H.P. 628 House of Representatives, March 8, 2021
An Act To Clarify the Laws Concerning Off-track Betting Facility
Licenses
Reference to the Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry suggested and
ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative WHITE of Waterville.
Cosponsored by Senator CYRWAY of Kennebec and
Representatives: BRYANT of Windham, McCREIGHT of Harpswell, ORDWAY of Standish,
Senator: DIAMOND of Cumberland.
Printed on recycled paper
 1 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
2 Sec. 1. 8 MRSA §275-D, sub-§10, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 528, §24, is amended
3 to read:
4 10. License nontransferable absent approval. An off-track betting facility license
5 issued is not transferable or assignable unless the transferee or assignee applies to the
6 commission for approval of the transfer or assignment. The commission may deny
7 approval for the reasons set forth in subsection 5, paragraph D, subparagraphs (2) to (6).
8 Sec. 2. 8 MRSA §275-D, sub-§14 is enacted to read:
9 14. All off-track betting facilities subject to same laws. A person licensed to operate
10 an off-track betting facility under Public Law 2019, chapter 626, section 16 is deemed for
11 all purposes to have been licensed under this section as of the date the commission awarded
12 the license under Public Law 2019, chapter 626, section 16 and has the same rights and
13 privileges and is subject to the statutes and rules applicable to the holder of a license issued
14 under this section as of that date.
15 SUMMARY
16 This bill authorizes the transfer or assignment of an off-track betting facility license if
17 the transfer or assignment is approved by the State Harness Racing Commission after
18 applying to the transferee or assignee the tests generally applicable to the fitness of original
19 licensees.
20 The bill also clarifies that persons licensed to operate off-track betting facilities under
21 Public Law 2019, chapter 626, section 16, which allowed commercial tracks that closed in
22 order to further the interests of the harness racing industry to be licensed as off-track betting
23 facilities, are subject to the same laws and have the same rights and responsibilities as off-
24 track betting facilities licensed under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 8, section 275-D.
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Statutes affected:
Bill Text LD 860, HP 628: 8.275