Section 11-65-29
State horse wagering fee.
No license tax, fee, or equivalent charge shall be levied by the state against horse racing or pari-mutuel wagering thereon licensed and regulated by a commission during a period beginning with April 5, 1984, and continuing until the fifth anniversary of the date on which racing events shall first be conducted under the jurisdiction of such commission. Beginning with such fifth anniversary of the date on which racing events shall first be conducted under the jurisdiction of a commission, and continuing thereafter for so long as such commission shall continue in existence, each horse racing operator licensed by such commission shall pay to the Department of Revenue of the state (or such other department or agency of the state as may be provided by law) a state horse wagering fee in an amount equal to one percent of the horse racing handle of such operator. The state horse wagering fee shall be paid in installments referable to the calendar months during which racing events shall be conducted by a horse racing operator, and the installment referable to any calendar month shall be an amount equal to one percent of the horse racing handle of such operator for such calendar month and shall be paid to the Department of Revenue of the state (or such other department or agency of the state as may be provided by law) prior to the end of the next succeeding calendar month. The Department of Revenue of the state (or other collecting department or agency of the state) is hereby authorized to promulgate and enforce such rules and regulations, not inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter, as shall be reasonably necessary for the determination and collection of the state horse wagering fee. The Department of Revenue of the state (or other collecting department or agency of the state) may require a bond with surety acceptable to it in an amount determined by it to be sufficient to cover the maximum liability for the state horse wagering fee that may at any time be incurred by an operator. All installments of the state horse wagering fee collected by the Department of Revenue shall be deposited in the State Treasury to the credit of the State General Fund.
The Legislature hereby finds and determines that the state horse wagering fee authorized by this chapter is the maximum license fee or equivalent tax or charge which can be levied by the state against horse racing or pari-mutuel wagering thereon without impairing the economic viability of horse racing and lessening its contribution to increased employment and tourism in the state. No state racing commission shall have the power to increase the state horse wagering fee above the limits provided in this chapter, to impose the state horse wagering fee for any period not herein authorized, or to levy or impose any additional license fee or equivalent tax or charge against horse racing or pari-mutuel wagering thereon conducted under the provisions of this chapter.
(Acts 1984, No. 84-131, p. 159, §29; Acts 1991, No. 91-187, p. 246, §24.)