HOUSE BILL 379

52nd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2015

INTRODUCED BY

Candy Spence Ezzell

AN ACT

RELATING TO HORSE RACING; REQUIRING THE TESTING FOR DRUGS AND OTHER FOREIGN SUBSTANCES IN RACEHORSES TO FOLLOW INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED MODEL RULES; RECONCILING CONFLICTING AMENDMENTS TO THE SAME SECTION OF LAW BY REPEALING LAWS 2013, CHAPTER 102, SECTION 2.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. Section 60-1A-14 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2007, Chapter 39, Section 14, as amended by Laws 2013, Chapter 102, Section 2 and by Laws 2013, Chapter 103, Section 3) is amended to read:

     "60-1A-14. TESTING SPECIMENS.--

          A. The commission shall adopt rules applying to the handling [and] of pre- and post-race, out-of-competition and necropsy testing of blood serum plasma, urine or other appropriate test samples identified by the commission to be taken from racehorses, following the guidelines established in model rules published by the association of racing commissioners international, incorporated, or a successor organization or, if none, by another nationally recognized organization that has published substantially similar guidelines that are generally accepted in the horse racing industry as determined by the commission.

          B. Each specimen taken from a racehorse shall be divided into two or more equal samples, and:

                (1) one sample shall be tested by the commission or its designated laboratory in order to detect the presence of unauthorized drugs, chemicals, stimulants, depressants or other performance-altering substance as defined by the association of racing commissioners international, incorporated, or a successor organization or, if none, by another nationally recognized organization that has published substantially similar guidelines that are generally accepted in the horse racing industry as determined by the commission; and

                (2) the second sample shall be forwarded by the commission to the scientific laboratory division of the department of health.

          C. After a positive test result on the sample tested by the commission or its designated laboratory and upon a written request from the president, executive director or manager of the New Mexico horsemen's association on forms designated by the commission, the scientific laboratory division shall transmit the corresponding second sample to the New Mexico horsemen's association.

          D. The scientific laboratory division shall keep all samples in a controlled environment for a period of at least three months.

          E. The commission shall contract with an independent laboratory to maintain a quality assurance program. The laboratory shall meet or exceed the current national laboratory standards for the testing of drugs or other foreign substances in a horse, as established by the association of racing commissioners international, incorporated, or of a successor organization or, if none, of another nationally recognized organization that has published substantially similar guidelines that are generally accepted in the horse racing industry."

     SECTION 2. Section 60-1A-14.1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2013, Chapter 102, Section 1) is amended to read:

     "60-1A-14.1. RACEHORSE TESTING FUND--CREATED--PURPOSE.--The "racehorse testing fund" is created in the state treasury. The purpose of the fund is to ensure the testing of racehorses at a laboratory that meets or exceeds the current national laboratory standards for the testing of drugs or other foreign substances not naturally occurring in a horse, as established by the association of racing commissioners international, incorporated. The fund consists of one-half of the daily capital outlay tax appropriated and transferred pursuant to Paragraph (4) of Subsection A of Section 60-1A-20 NMSA 1978 and appropriations, gifts, grants and donations made to the fund. Income from investment of the fund shall be credited to the fund. The commission shall administer the racehorse testing fund, and money in the fund is appropriated to the commission for the handling [and] of pre- and post-race, out-of-competition and necropsy testing of blood serum plasma, urine or other appropriate test samples taken from racehorses pursuant to Section 60-1A-14 NMSA 1978, following the guidelines established in model rules published by the association of racing commissioners international, incorporated, or a successor organization or, if none, by another nationally recognized organization that has published substantially similar guidelines that are generally accepted in the horse racing industry as determined by the commission. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining in the racehorse testing fund at the end of a fiscal year in excess of six hundred thousand dollars ($600,000) shall revert to the general fund. Expenditures from the fund shall be made on warrant of the secretary of finance and administration pursuant to vouchers signed by the executive director of the commission."

     SECTION 3. REPEAL.--Laws 2013, Chapter 102, Section 2 is

repealed.

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