Assemblyman Ronald Dancer

ASSEMBLY APPROVES DANCER LEGISLATION THAT STREAMLINES LICENSING PROCESS FOR LIVE
HORSE RACING PARTICIPANTS

Legislation sponsored by Assemblyman Ronald Dancer, that would make New Jersey a member of the National Compact Licensing Program and streamline the licensing process for participants in live horse racing with pari-mutuel wagering, was approved today by the General Assembly.

The bill, A-2464, would enact the Interstate Compact for Horse Racing Licensees and recognize the creation of the Interstate Licensing Compact Committee to streamline the licensing process for all parties involved with pari-mutuel wagering. That includes horse owners, riders, agents, trainers, starters, timers, judges, grooms, drivers, and any other person(s) acting in any capacity in connection with the training of horses or the actual running of the races.Under current law, individuals involved in live horsing racing who are required to obtain a license, must do so from each state they race in. Each time the participant applies for a license, he or she is required to undergo a criminal background check, including fingerprinting, because sharing of such information among states is prohibited.

There are currently 11 member states that comprise the compact, including New York, Delaware, Kentucky, Virginia and Florida.

"This legislation will allow participants to apply for one license which will be valid in all compacting states," explained Dancer, R-Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean. "As it stands now, when a participant wants to race in another state, he or she must go through a background check and fingerprinting process which is time consuming and expensive.

"If their fingerprints and background information are already on file in another state, it just makes sense that that information should be made available to other states," he continued. "This bill will allow that information to be shared among member states and it will reduce duplicative costs to applicants."

The compact committee would have the authority to investigate applicants for a license and, as permitted by state and federal law, to gather criminal history record information form the FBI, relevant state and local law enforcement agencies, and, where appropriate, law enforcement agencies of other countries.

The legislation, which passed by a 77 - 0 vote, now heads to the Governor's desk for his signature.
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For more information contact:
Assemblyman Ronald Dancer/732-901-0702
Assembly Republican Office/609-292-5339