A. The Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission shall issue occupation licenses to horse owners, trainers, jockeys, agents, apprentices, grooms, exercise persons, veterinarians, valets, blacksmiths, concessionaires, stewards, starters, timers, judges, supervisors of mutuels, guards, and such other personnel designated by the Commission whose work, in whole or in part, is conducted upon racetrack grounds which are owned by an organization licensee. The licenses shall be obtained prior to the time such persons engage in their vocations upon such racetrack grounds at any time during the calendar year for which the organization license has been issued. No person required to be licensed pursuant to the provisions of this section may participate in any capacity in any race meeting without a valid license authorizing such participation.
B. Each application for an occupation license shall be on a form prescribed and furnished by the Commission and shall include a search waiver. The license shall be renewed either annually or triennially beginning January 1. The application shall be accompanied by a fee in an amount of not more than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) if renewed annually or not more than Three Hundred Dollars ($300.00) if renewed triennially. Each application shall contain the following information concerning the applicant:
1. Full name and address;
2. Age;
3. Whether the applicant was issued any prior occupation license from this state;
4. Whether the applicant was issued any occupation license from another state;
5. Whether an occupation license from another state is or has been denied, suspended, or revoked;
6. Whether the applicant has been convicted of a felony in this state or any other state as established by a national criminal history record check as defined by Section 150.9 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes; and
7. Such other information as required by the Commission.
C. The Commission may refuse an occupation license to any person:
1. Who has been convicted of a felony; or
2. Who has been convicted of violating any law regarding gambling or controlled dangerous substances of the United States, this state, or any other state; or
3. Who is unqualified to perform the duties required of the applicant; or
4. Who fails to disclose or states falsely any information required in the application; or
5. Who has been found guilty of a violation of any provision of the Oklahoma Horse Racing Act or of the rules and regulations of the Commission; or
6. Whose license has been suspended, revoked, or denied for just cause in any other state.
D. The Commission may suspend or revoke any occupation license or fine an occupation licensee for:
1. Violation of any of the provisions of the Oklahoma Horse Racing Act; or
2. Violation of any provision of the rules or regulations of the Commission; or
3. Any cause which, if known to the Commission, would have justified the refusal of the Commission to issue the occupation license; or
4. Any other just cause as determined by the Commission.
E. Of the original application fee for an occupation license, the amount of the fingerprinting fee shall be deposited in the OSBI Revolving Fund. The remainder shall be apportioned to the Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission Operational Expenses Revolving Fund.
F. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Oklahoma Horse Racing Act, Section 200 et seq. of this title, licenses for personnel specified in subsection A of this section whose work is limited to racetrack grounds which are owned by an organization licensee which only conducts non-pari-mutuel race meetings or training races shall be issued pursuant to rules adopted by the Commission in accordance with the American Quarter Horse Association rules.
G. The Commission may promulgate rules to facilitate and promote uniform, reciprocal occupation licensing with other jurisdictions.
H. Nothing in the Oklahoma Horse Racing Act or rules promulgated pursuant thereto shall prohibit or be construed as prohibiting issuance of any occupation license solely because the applicant is an organizational licensee or racetrack owner or holds an interest in a racetrack.
Added by Laws 1983, c. 11, § 15, emerg. eff. March 22, 1983. Amended by Laws 1985, c. 196, § 4, emerg. eff. June 26, 1985; Laws 1986, c. 223, § 12, operative July 1, 1986; Laws 1988, c. 210, § 6, operative July 1, 1988; Laws 1989, c. 369, § 98, operative July 1, 1989; Laws 1992, c. 16, § 4, emerg. eff. March 26, 1992; Laws 1999, c. 8, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 1999; Laws 2000, c. 238, § 1, emerg. eff. May 24, 2000; Laws 2003, c. 204, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2003; Laws 2017, c. 116, § 3, eff. July 1, 2017.