ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-fifth Legislature

First Regular Session

House: JUD DP 6-4-0-0

HB 2012: unauthorized racing meetings; penalties; racketeering

Sponsor: Representative Kavanagh, LD 23

Caucus & COW

Overview

Makes knowingly holding an unauthorized racing meeting a class 6 felony. Also establishes unauthorized racing meetings as a form of racketeering if committed for financial gain.

History

Horse racing is defined in statute as racing where horses are mounted and ridden by jockeys. A racing meeting is defined as the number of days granted by the Arizona Racing Commission with a permit (A.R.S. § 5-101). A person, association, partnership or corporation cannot hold a racing meeting without a permit issued by the Department of Gaming (A.R.S. § 5-107.01).

A person who holds or conducts a racing meeting or operates an additional wagering facility without a permit is guilty of a class 2 misdemeanor (A.R.S. § 5-115).

Racketeering is defined in statute as an act or offense chargeable or indictable under Arizona or U.S. laws and punishable by imprisonment for more than one year. Forms of racketeering include acts committed for financial gain, such as money laundering, extortion, forgery and gambling (A.R.S. § 13-2301).

Provisions

1. Defines unauthorized racing meeting as any racing meeting conducted outside the bounds of a permit. (Sec. 1)

2. Classifies knowingly holding an unauthorized racing meeting as a class 6 felony. (Sec. 2)

3. Classifies holding an unauthorized racing meeting as racketeering if committed for financial gain. (Sec. 3)

4. Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1, 3)

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8. HB 2012

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