{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/59.1-394.1.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/59.1-394.1.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/59.1-394.1.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/59.1-394.1.html"}],"law_id":373062,"edition_id":2,"section_id":373062,"structure_id":53094,"section_number":"59.1-394.1","catch_line":"Live Horseracing Compact; form of compact","history":"2000, c. 992; 2003, c. 722.","full_text":"The Live Horseracing Compact is enacted into law and entered into with all other jurisdictions legally joining therein in the form substantially as follows:\n\n\t\tARTICLE I. Purposes.\n\n\t\t\u00a7 1. Purposes.\n\n\t\tThe purposes of this compact are to:\n\n1\n\nEstablish uniform requirements among the party states for the licensing of participants in live horse racing with pari-mutuel wagering, and ensure that all such participants who are licensed pursuant to this compact meet a uniform minimum standard of honesty and integrity.\n\n2\n\nFacilitate the growth of the horse racing industry in each party state and nationwide by simplifying the process for licensing participants in live racing, and reduce the duplicative and costly process of separate licensing by the regulatory agency in each state that conducts live horse racing with pari-mutuel wagering.\n\n3\n\nAuthorize the Virginia Racing Commission to participate in this compact.\n\n4\n\nProvide for participation in this compact by officials of the party states, and permit those officials, through the compact committee established by this compact, to enter into contracts with governmental agencies and nongovernmental persons to carry out the purposes of this compact.\n\n5\n\nEstablish the compact committee created by this compact as an interstate governmental entity duly authorized to request and receive criminal history record information from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other state and local law-enforcement agencies.\n\t\t\tARTICLE II. Definitions.\n\n\t\t\t§ 2. Definitions.\n\n\t\t\t“Compact committee” means the organization of officials from the party states that is authorized and empowered by this compact to carry out the purposes of this compact.\n\n\t\t\t“Official” means the appointed, elected, designated or otherwise duly selected representative of a racing commission or the equivalent thereof in a party state who represents that party state as a member of the compact committee.\n\n\t\t\t“Participants in live racing” means participants in live horse racing with pari-mutuel wagering in the party states.\n\n\t\t\t“Party state” means each state that has enacted this compact.\n\n\t\t\t“State” means each of the several states of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and each territory or possession of the United States.\n\n\t\t\tARTICLE III. Entry into Force, Eligible Parties and Withdrawal.\n\n\t\t\t§ 3. Entry into force.\n\n\t\t\tThis compact shall come into force when enacted by any four states. Thereafter, this compact shall become effective as to any other state upon (i) that state’s enactment of this compact and (ii) the affirmative vote of a majority of the officials on the compact committee as provided in § 8.\n\n\t\t\t§ 4. States eligible to join compact.\n\n\t\t\tAny state that has adopted or authorized horse racing with pari-mutuel wagering shall be eligible to become party to this compact.\n\n\t\t\t§ 5. Withdrawal from compact and impact thereof on force and effect of compact.\n\n\t\t\tAny party state may withdraw from this compact by enacting a statute repealing this compact, but no such withdrawal shall become effective until the head of the executive branch of the withdrawing state has given notice in writing of such withdrawal to the head of the executive branch of all other party states. If as a result of withdrawals participation in this compact decreases to less than three party states, this compact no longer shall be in force and effect unless and until there are at least three or more party states again participating in this compact.\n\n\t\t\tARTICLE IV. Compact Committee.\n\n\t\t\t§ 6. Compact committee established.\n\n\t\t\tThere is hereby created an interstate governmental entity to be known as the “compact committee,” which shall be comprised of one official from the racing commission or its equivalent in each party state who shall be appointed, serve and be subject to removal in accordance with the laws of the party state he represents. Pursuant to the laws of his party state, each official shall have the assistance of his state’s racing commission or the equivalent thereof in considering issues related to licensing of participants in live racing and in fulfilling his responsibilities as the representative from his state to the compact committee. If an official is unable to perform any duty in connection with the powers and duties of the compact committee, the racing commission or equivalent thereof from his state shall designate an alternate who shall serve in his place and represent the party state as its official on the compact committee until that racing commission or equivalent thereof determines that the original representative official is able once again to perform his duties as that party state’s representative official on the compact committee. The designation of an alternate shall be communicated by the affected state’s racing commission or equivalent thereof to the compact committee as the committee’s bylaws may provide.\n\n\t\t\t§ 7. Powers and duties of compact committee.\n\n\t\t\tIn order to carry out the purposes of this compact, the compact committee is hereby granted the power and duty to:\n\n1\n\nDetermine which categories of participants in live racing, including but not limited to owners, trainers, jockeys, grooms, mutuel clerks, racing officials, veterinarians, and farriers, and which categories of equivalent participants in live racing with pari-mutuel wagering authorized in two or more of the party states, should be licensed by the committee, and establish the requirements for the initial licensure of applicants in each such category, the term of the license for each category, and the requirements for renewal of licenses in each category. Provided, however, that with regard to requests for criminal record on the issuance or renewal of a license, the compact committee shall determine for each category of participants in live racing which licensure requirements for that category are, in its judgment, the most restrictive licensure requirements of any party state for that category and shall adopt licensure requirements for that category that are, in its judgment, comparable to those most restrictive requirements.\n\n2\n\nInvestigate applicants for a license from the compact committee and, as permitted by federal and state law, gather information on such applicants, including criminal history record information from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and relevant state and local law-enforcement agencies, and, where appropriate, from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and law-enforcement agencies of other countries, necessary to determine whether a license should be issued under the licensure requirements established by the committee as provided in paragraph 1 of this section. Only officials on, and employees of, the compact committee may receive and review such criminal history record information, and those officials and employees may use that information only for the purposes of this compact. No such official or employee may disclose or disseminate such information to any person or entity other than another official or employee of the compact committee. The fingerprints of each applicant for a license from the compact committee shall be taken by the compact committee, its employees, or its designee and, pursuant to Public Law 92-544 or Public Law 100-413, shall be forwarded to a state identification bureau, or an association of state officials regulating pari-mutuel wagering designated by the Attorney General of the United States, for submission to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for a criminal history record check. Such fingerprints may be submitted on a fingerprint card or by electronic or other means authorized by the Federal Bureau of Investigation or other receiving law-enforcement agency.\n\n3\n\nIssue licenses to, and renew the licenses of, participants in live racing listed in paragraph 1 of this section who are found by the committee to have met the licensure and renewal requirements established by the committee. The compact committee shall not have the power or authority to deny a license. If it determines that an applicant will not be eligible for the issuance or renewal of a compact committee license, the compact committee shall notify the applicant that it will not be able to process his application further. Such notification does not constitute and shall not be considered to be the denial of a license. Any such applicant shall have the right to present additional evidence to, and to be heard by, the compact committee, but the final decision on issuance or renewal of the license shall be made by the compact committee using the requirements established pursuant to paragraph 1 of this section.\n\n4\n\nEnter into contracts or agreements with governmental agencies and with nongovernmental persons to provide personal services for its activities and such other services as may be necessary to effectuate the purposes of this compact.\n\n5\n\nCreate, appoint, and abolish those offices, employments, and positions, including an executive director, as it deems necessary for the purposes of this compact, prescribe their powers, duties and qualifications, hire persons to fill those offices, employments and positions, and provide for the removal, term, tenure, compensation, fringe benefits, retirement benefits and other conditions of employment of its officers, employees and other positions.\n\n6\n\nBorrow, accept, or contract for the services of personnel from any state, the United States, or any other governmental agency, or from any person, firm, association, corporation or other entity.\n\n7\n\nAcquire, hold, and dispose of real and personal property by gift, purchase, lease, license, or in other similar manner, in furtherance of the purposes of this compact.\n\n8\n\nCharge a fee to each applicant for an initial license or renewal of a license.\n\n9\n\nReceive other funds through gifts, grants and appropriations.\n\t\t\t\u00a7 8. Voting requirements.\n\nA\n\nEach official shall be entitled to one vote on the compact committee.\n\nB\n\nAll action taken by the compact committee with regard to the addition of party states as provided in § 3, the licensure of participants in live racing, and the receipt and disbursement of funds shall require a majority vote of the total number of officials (or their alternates) on the committee. All other action by the compact committee shall require a majority vote of those officials (or their alternates) present and voting.\n\nC\n\nNo action of the compact committee may be taken unless a quorum is present. A majority of the officials (or their alternates) on the compact committee shall constitute a quorum.\n\t\t\t\t§ 9. Administration and management.\n\nA\n\nThe compact committee shall elect annually from among its members a chairman, a vice-chairman, and a secretary\/treasurer.\n\nB\n\nThe compact committee shall adopt bylaws for the conduct of its business by a two-thirds vote of the total number of officials (or their alternates) on the committee at that time and shall have the power by the same vote to amend and rescind such bylaws. The committee shall publish its bylaws in convenient form and shall file a copy thereof and a copy of any amendments thereto with the secretary of state or equivalent agency of each of the party states.\n\nC\n\nThe compact committee may delegate the day-to-day management and administration of its duties and responsibilities to an executive director and his support staff.\n\nD\n\nEmployees of the compact committee shall be considered governmental employees.\n\t\t\t\t§ 10. Immunity from liability for performance of official responsibilities and duties.\n\n\t\t\t\tNo official of a party state or employee of the compact committee shall be held personally liable for any good faith act or omission that occurs during the performance and within the scope of his responsibilities and duties under this compact.\n\n\t\t\t\tARTICLE V. Rights and Responsibilities of Each Party State.\n\n\t\t\t\t§ 11. Rights and responsibilities of each party state.\n\nA\n\nBy enacting this compact, each party state:\n\n1\n\nAgrees (i) to accept the decisions of the compact committee regarding the issuance of compact committee licenses to participants in live racing pursuant to the committee’s licensure requirements and (ii) to reimburse or otherwise pay the expenses of its official representative on the compact committee or his alternate.\n\n2\n\nAgrees not to treat a notification to an applicant by the compact committee under paragraph 3 of § 7 that the compact committee will not be able to process his application further as the denial of a license, or to penalize such an applicant in any other way based solely on such a decision by the compact committee.\n\n3\n\nReserves the right (i) to charge a fee for the use of a compact committee license in that state, (ii) to apply its own standards in determining whether, on the facts of a particular case, a compact committee license should be suspended or revoked, (iii) to apply its own standards in determining licensure eligibility, under the laws of that party state, for categories of participants in live racing that the compact committee determines not to license and for individual participants in live racing who do not meet the licensure requirements of the compact committee, and (iv) to establish its own licensure standards for the licensure of nonracing employees at horse racetracks and employees at separate satellite wagering facilities. Any party state that suspends or revokes a compact committee license shall, through its racing commission or the equivalent thereof or otherwise, promptly notify the compact committee of that suspension or revocation.\n\nB\n\nNo party state shall be held liable for the debts or other financial obligations incurred by the compact committee.\n\t\t\t\tARTICLE VI. Construction and Severability.\n\n\t\t\t\t§ 12. Construction and severability.\n\n\t\t\t\tThis compact shall be liberally construed so as to effectuate its purposes. The provisions of this compact shall be severable, and, if any phrase, clause, sentence or provision of this compact is declared to be contrary to the Constitution of the United States or of any party state, or the applicability of this compact to any government, agency, person or circumstance is held invalid, the validity of the remainder of this compact and the applicability thereof to any government, agency, person or circumstance shall not be affected thereby. If all or some portion of this compact is held to be contrary to the constitution of any party state, the compact shall remain in full force and effect as to the remaining party states and in full force and effect as to the state affected as to all severable matters.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1391665,"text":"The Live Horseracing Compact is enacted into law and entered into with all other jurisdictions legally joining therein in the form substantially as follows:\t\tARTICLE I. Purposes.\t\t\u00a7 1. Purposes.\t\tThe purposes of this compact are to:","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":"1"},"1":{"id":1391666,"text":"Establish uniform requirements among the party states for the licensing of participants in live horse racing with pari-mutuel wagering, and ensure that all such participants who are licensed pursuant to this compact meet a uniform minimum standard of honesty and integrity.","type":"section","prefixes":["1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"1","prefix_anchor":"1","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":"2"},"2":{"id":1391667,"text":"Facilitate the growth of the horse racing industry in each party state and nationwide by simplifying the process for licensing participants in live racing, and reduce the duplicative and costly process of separate licensing by the regulatory agency in each state that conducts live horse racing with pari-mutuel wagering.","type":"section","prefixes":["2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"2","prefix_anchor":"2","level":1,"prior_prefix":"1","next_prefix":"3"},"3":{"id":1391668,"text":"Authorize the Virginia Racing Commission to participate in this compact.","type":"section","prefixes":["3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"3","prefix_anchor":"3","level":1,"prior_prefix":"2","next_prefix":"4"},"4":{"id":1391669,"text":"Provide for participation in this compact by officials of the party states, and permit those officials, through the compact committee established by this compact, to enter into contracts with governmental agencies and nongovernmental persons to carry out the purposes of this compact.","type":"section","prefixes":["4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"4","prefix_anchor":"4","level":1,"prior_prefix":"3","next_prefix":"5"},"5":{"id":1391670,"text":"Establish the compact committee created by this compact as an interstate governmental entity duly authorized to request and receive criminal history record information from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other state and local law-enforcement agencies.\n\t\t\tARTICLE II. Definitions.\t\t\t§ 2. Definitions.\t\t\t“Compact committee” means the organization of officials from the party states that is authorized and empowered by this compact to carry out the purposes of this compact.\t\t\t“Official” means the appointed, elected, designated or otherwise duly selected representative of a racing commission or the equivalent thereof in a party state who represents that party state as a member of the compact committee.\t\t\t“Participants in live racing” means participants in live horse racing with pari-mutuel wagering in the party states.\t\t\t“Party state” means each state that has enacted this compact.\t\t\t“State” means each of the several states of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and each territory or possession of the United States.\t\t\tARTICLE III. Entry into Force, Eligible Parties and Withdrawal.\t\t\t§ 3. Entry into force.\t\t\tThis compact shall come into force when enacted by any four states. Thereafter, this compact shall become effective as to any other state upon (i) that state’s enactment of this compact and (ii) the affirmative vote of a majority of the officials on the compact committee as provided in § 8.\t\t\t§ 4. States eligible to join compact.\t\t\tAny state that has adopted or authorized horse racing with pari-mutuel wagering shall be eligible to become party to this compact.\t\t\t§ 5. Withdrawal from compact and impact thereof on force and effect of compact.\t\t\tAny party state may withdraw from this compact by enacting a statute repealing this compact, but no such withdrawal shall become effective until the head of the executive branch of the withdrawing state has given notice in writing of such withdrawal to the head of the executive branch of all other party states. If as a result of withdrawals participation in this compact decreases to less than three party states, this compact no longer shall be in force and effect unless and until there are at least three or more party states again participating in this compact.\t\t\tARTICLE IV. Compact Committee.\t\t\t§ 6. Compact committee established.\t\t\tThere is hereby created an interstate governmental entity to be known as the “compact committee,” which shall be comprised of one official from the racing commission or its equivalent in each party state who shall be appointed, serve and be subject to removal in accordance with the laws of the party state he represents. Pursuant to the laws of his party state, each official shall have the assistance of his state’s racing commission or the equivalent thereof in considering issues related to licensing of participants in live racing and in fulfilling his responsibilities as the representative from his state to the compact committee. If an official is unable to perform any duty in connection with the powers and duties of the compact committee, the racing commission or equivalent thereof from his state shall designate an alternate who shall serve in his place and represent the party state as its official on the compact committee until that racing commission or equivalent thereof determines that the original representative official is able once again to perform his duties as that party state’s representative official on the compact committee. The designation of an alternate shall be communicated by the affected state’s racing commission or equivalent thereof to the compact committee as the committee’s bylaws may provide.\t\t\t§ 7. Powers and duties of compact committee.\t\t\tIn order to carry out the purposes of this compact, the compact committee is hereby granted the power and duty to:","type":"section","prefixes":["5"],"prefix":"5","entire_prefix":"5","prefix_anchor":"5","level":1,"prior_prefix":"4","next_prefix":"1"},"6":{"id":1391671,"text":"Determine which categories of participants in live racing, including but not limited to owners, trainers, jockeys, grooms, mutuel clerks, racing officials, veterinarians, and farriers, and which categories of equivalent participants in live racing with pari-mutuel wagering authorized in two or more of the party states, should be licensed by the committee, and establish the requirements for the initial licensure of applicants in each such category, the term of the license for each category, and the requirements for renewal of licenses in each category. Provided, however, that with regard to requests for criminal record on the issuance or renewal of a license, the compact committee shall determine for each category of participants in live racing which licensure requirements for that category are, in its judgment, the most restrictive licensure requirements of any party state for that category and shall adopt licensure requirements for that category that are, in its judgment, comparable to those most restrictive requirements.","type":"section","prefixes":["1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"1","prefix_anchor":"1","level":1,"prior_prefix":"5","next_prefix":"2"},"7":{"id":1391672,"text":"Investigate applicants for a license from the compact committee and, as permitted by federal and state law, gather information on such applicants, including criminal history record information from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and relevant state and local law-enforcement agencies, and, where appropriate, from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and law-enforcement agencies of other countries, necessary to determine whether a license should be issued under the licensure requirements established by the committee as provided in paragraph 1 of this section. Only officials on, and employees of, the compact committee may receive and review such criminal history record information, and those officials and employees may use that information only for the purposes of this compact. No such official or employee may disclose or disseminate such information to any person or entity other than another official or employee of the compact committee. The fingerprints of each applicant for a license from the compact committee shall be taken by the compact committee, its employees, or its designee and, pursuant to Public Law 92-544 or Public Law 100-413, shall be forwarded to a state identification bureau, or an association of state officials regulating pari-mutuel wagering designated by the Attorney General of the United States, for submission to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for a criminal history record check. Such fingerprints may be submitted on a fingerprint card or by electronic or other means authorized by the Federal Bureau of Investigation or other receiving law-enforcement agency.","type":"section","prefixes":["2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"2","prefix_anchor":"2","level":1,"prior_prefix":"1","next_prefix":"3"},"8":{"id":1391673,"text":"Issue licenses to, and renew the licenses of, participants in live racing listed in paragraph 1 of this section who are found by the committee to have met the licensure and renewal requirements established by the committee. The compact committee shall not have the power or authority to deny a license. If it determines that an applicant will not be eligible for the issuance or renewal of a compact committee license, the compact committee shall notify the applicant that it will not be able to process his application further. Such notification does not constitute and shall not be considered to be the denial of a license. Any such applicant shall have the right to present additional evidence to, and to be heard by, the compact committee, but the final decision on issuance or renewal of the license shall be made by the compact committee using the requirements established pursuant to paragraph 1 of this section.","type":"section","prefixes":["3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"3","prefix_anchor":"3","level":1,"prior_prefix":"2","next_prefix":"4"},"9":{"id":1391674,"text":"Enter into contracts or agreements with governmental agencies and with nongovernmental persons to provide personal services for its activities and such other services as may be necessary to effectuate the purposes of this compact.","type":"section","prefixes":["4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"4","prefix_anchor":"4","level":1,"prior_prefix":"3","next_prefix":"5"},"10":{"id":1391675,"text":"Create, appoint, and abolish those offices, employments, and positions, including an executive director, as it deems necessary for the purposes of this compact, prescribe their powers, duties and qualifications, hire persons to fill those offices, employments and positions, and provide for the removal, term, tenure, compensation, fringe benefits, retirement benefits and other conditions of employment of its officers, employees and other positions.","type":"section","prefixes":["5"],"prefix":"5","entire_prefix":"5","prefix_anchor":"5","level":1,"prior_prefix":"4","next_prefix":"6"},"11":{"id":1391676,"text":"Borrow, accept, or contract for the services of personnel from any state, the United States, or any other governmental agency, or from any person, firm, association, corporation or other entity.","type":"section","prefixes":["6"],"prefix":"6","entire_prefix":"6","prefix_anchor":"6","level":1,"prior_prefix":"5","next_prefix":"7"},"12":{"id":1391677,"text":"Acquire, hold, and dispose of real and personal property by gift, purchase, lease, license, or in other similar manner, in furtherance of the purposes of this compact.","type":"section","prefixes":["7"],"prefix":"7","entire_prefix":"7","prefix_anchor":"7","level":1,"prior_prefix":"6","next_prefix":"8"},"13":{"id":1391678,"text":"Charge a fee to each applicant for an initial license or renewal of a license.","type":"section","prefixes":["8"],"prefix":"8","entire_prefix":"8","prefix_anchor":"8","level":1,"prior_prefix":"7","next_prefix":"9"},"14":{"id":1391679,"text":"Receive other funds through gifts, grants and appropriations.\n\t\t\t\u00a7 8. Voting requirements.","type":"section","prefixes":["9"],"prefix":"9","entire_prefix":"9","prefix_anchor":"9","level":1,"prior_prefix":"8","next_prefix":"9A"},"15":{"id":1391680,"text":"Each official shall be entitled to one vote on the compact committee.","type":"section","prefixes":["9","A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"9A","prefix_anchor":"9A","level":2,"prior_prefix":"9","next_prefix":"9B"},"16":{"id":1391681,"text":"All action taken by the compact committee with regard to the addition of party states as provided in § 3, the licensure of participants in live racing, and the receipt and disbursement of funds shall require a majority vote of the total number of officials (or their alternates) on the committee. All other action by the compact committee shall require a majority vote of those officials (or their alternates) present and voting.","type":"section","prefixes":["9","B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"9B","prefix_anchor":"9B","level":2,"prior_prefix":"9A","next_prefix":"9C"},"17":{"id":1391682,"text":"No action of the compact committee may be taken unless a quorum is present. A majority of the officials (or their alternates) on the compact committee shall constitute a quorum.\n\t\t\t\t§ 9. Administration and management.","type":"section","prefixes":["9","C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"9C","prefix_anchor":"9C","level":2,"prior_prefix":"9B","next_prefix":"9A"},"18":{"id":1391683,"text":"The compact committee shall elect annually from among its members a chairman, a vice-chairman, and a secretary\/treasurer.","type":"section","prefixes":["9","A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"9A","prefix_anchor":"9A","level":2,"prior_prefix":"9C","next_prefix":"9B"},"19":{"id":1391684,"text":"The compact committee shall adopt bylaws for the conduct of its business by a two-thirds vote of the total number of officials (or their alternates) on the committee at that time and shall have the power by the same vote to amend and rescind such bylaws. The committee shall publish its bylaws in convenient form and shall file a copy thereof and a copy of any amendments thereto with the secretary of state or equivalent agency of each of the party states.","type":"section","prefixes":["9","B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"9B","prefix_anchor":"9B","level":2,"prior_prefix":"9A","next_prefix":"9C"},"20":{"id":1391685,"text":"The compact committee may delegate the day-to-day management and administration of its duties and responsibilities to an executive director and his support staff.","type":"section","prefixes":["9","C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"9C","prefix_anchor":"9C","level":2,"prior_prefix":"9B","next_prefix":"9D"},"21":{"id":1391686,"text":"Employees of the compact committee shall be considered governmental employees.\n\t\t\t\t§ 10. Immunity from liability for performance of official responsibilities and duties.\t\t\t\tNo official of a party state or employee of the compact committee shall be held personally liable for any good faith act or omission that occurs during the performance and within the scope of his responsibilities and duties under this compact.\t\t\t\tARTICLE V. Rights and Responsibilities of Each Party State.\t\t\t\t§ 11. Rights and responsibilities of each party state.","type":"section","prefixes":["9","D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"9D","prefix_anchor":"9D","level":2,"prior_prefix":"9C","next_prefix":"9A"},"22":{"id":1391687,"text":"By enacting this compact, each party state:","type":"section","prefixes":["9","A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"9A","prefix_anchor":"9A","level":2,"prior_prefix":"9D","next_prefix":"1"},"23":{"id":1391688,"text":"Agrees (i) to accept the decisions of the compact committee regarding the issuance of compact committee licenses to participants in live racing pursuant to the committee’s licensure requirements and (ii) to reimburse or otherwise pay the expenses of its official representative on the compact committee or his alternate.","type":"section","prefixes":["1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"1","prefix_anchor":"1","level":1,"prior_prefix":"9A","next_prefix":"2"},"24":{"id":1391689,"text":"Agrees not to treat a notification to an applicant by the compact committee under paragraph 3 of § 7 that the compact committee will not be able to process his application further as the denial of a license, or to penalize such an applicant in any other way based solely on such a decision by the compact committee.","type":"section","prefixes":["2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"2","prefix_anchor":"2","level":1,"prior_prefix":"1","next_prefix":"3"},"25":{"id":1391690,"text":"Reserves the right (i) to charge a fee for the use of a compact committee license in that state, (ii) to apply its own standards in determining whether, on the facts of a particular case, a compact committee license should be suspended or revoked, (iii) to apply its own standards in determining licensure eligibility, under the laws of that party state, for categories of participants in live racing that the compact committee determines not to license and for individual participants in live racing who do not meet the licensure requirements of the compact committee, and (iv) to establish its own licensure standards for the licensure of nonracing employees at horse racetracks and employees at separate satellite wagering facilities. Any party state that suspends or revokes a compact committee license shall, through its racing commission or the equivalent thereof or otherwise, promptly notify the compact committee of that suspension or revocation.","type":"section","prefixes":["3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"3","prefix_anchor":"3","level":1,"prior_prefix":"2","next_prefix":"3B"},"26":{"id":1391691,"text":"No party state shall be held liable for the debts or other financial obligations incurred by the compact committee.\n\t\t\t\tARTICLE VI. Construction and Severability.\t\t\t\t§ 12. Construction and severability.\t\t\t\tThis compact shall be liberally construed so as to effectuate its purposes. The provisions of this compact shall be severable, and, if any phrase, clause, sentence or provision of this compact is declared to be contrary to the Constitution of the United States or of any party state, or the applicability of this compact to any government, agency, person or circumstance is held invalid, the validity of the remainder of this compact and the applicability thereof to any government, agency, person or circumstance shall not be affected thereby. If all or some portion of this compact is held to be contrary to the constitution of any party state, the compact shall remain in full force and effect as to the remaining party states and in full force and effect as to the state affected as to all severable matters.","type":"section","prefixes":["3","B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"3B","prefix_anchor":"3B","level":2,"prior_prefix":"3"}},"ancestry":[{"id":53094,"edition_id":2,"name":"Live Horseracing Compact","identifier":"5.1","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":6,"parent_id":53088,"metadata":{"child_laws":4,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:10:47","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:36:27","permalink":{"id":1488201,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":53094,"identifier":"5.1","token":"59.1\/29\/5.1","url":"\/59.1\/29\/5.1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":53088,"edition_id":2,"name":"Horse Racing and Pari-Mutuel Wagering","identifier":"29","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":35,"parent_id":53010,"metadata":{"child_laws":50,"child_structures":7},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:10:43","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:36:26","permalink":{"id":1488049,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":53088,"identifier":"29","token":"59.1\/29","url":"\/59.1\/29\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":53010,"edition_id":2,"name":"Trade and Commerce","identifier":"59.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":127,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":861,"child_structures":141},"date_created":"2026-08-02 03:09:52","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:36:19","permalink":{"id":1486523,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":53010,"identifier":"59.1","token":"59.1","url":"\/59.1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":373062,"structure_id":53094,"section_number":"59.1-394.1","catch_line":"Live Horseracing Compact; form of compact","url":"\/59.1-394.1\/","token":"59.1\/29\/5.1\/59.1-394.1","metadata":false},{"id":373063,"structure_id":53094,"section_number":"59.1-394.2","catch_line":"Compact Committee members","url":"\/59.1-394.2\/","token":"59.1\/29\/5.1\/59.1-394.2","metadata":false},{"id":373064,"structure_id":53094,"section_number":"59.1-394.3","catch_line":"Cooperation of departments, agencies and officers of the Commonwealth","url":"\/59.1-394.3\/","token":"59.1\/29\/5.1\/59.1-394.3","metadata":false},{"id":373065,"structure_id":53094,"section_number":"59.1-394.4","catch_line":"Racing Commission powers preserved","url":"\/59.1-394.4\/","token":"59.1\/29\/5.1\/59.1-394.4","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":373063,"structure_id":53094,"section_number":"59.1-394.2","catch_line":"Compact Committee members","url":"\/59.1-394.2\/","token":"59.1\/29\/5.1\/59.1-394.2","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/59.1-394.1\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2000. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 992<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. It has been modified 1 time. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. That modification is as follows: in 2003, chapter 722<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1488203,"object_type":"law","relational_id":373062,"identifier":"59.1-394.1","token":"59.1\/29\/5.1\/59.1-394.1","url":"\/59.1-394.1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/59.1-394.1\/","token":"59.1\/29\/5.1\/59.1-394.1","dublin_core":{"Title":"Live Horseracing Compact; form of compact","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 59.1-394.1","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

The Live Horseracing Compact is enacted into law<\/span> and entered into with all other jurisdictions<\/span> legally joining therein in the form substantially as follows:

\t\tARTICLE I. Purposes.

\t\t\u00a7 1. Purposes.

\t\tThe purposes of this compact are to:<\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Establish uniform requirements among the party states<\/span> for the licensing of participants<\/span> in live horse racing<\/span> with pari-mutuel wagering<\/span>, and ensure that all such participants<\/span> who are licensed pursuant to this compact meet a uniform minimum standard of honesty and integrity. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Facilitate the growth of the horse racing<\/span> industry in each party state<\/span> and nationwide by simplifying the process for licensing participants in live racing<\/span>, and reduce the duplicative and costly process of separate licensing by the regulatory agency in each state that conducts live horse racing<\/span> with pari-mutuel wagering<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Authorize the Virginia Racing Commission<\/span> to participate in this compact. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> Provide for participation in this compact by officials<\/span> of the party states<\/span>, and permit those officials<\/span>, through the compact committee<\/span> established by this compact, to enter into contracts<\/span> with governmental agencies and nongovernmental persons<\/span> to carry out the purposes of this compact. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

5.<\/span> Establish the compact committee<\/span> created by this compact as an interstate governmental entity duly authorized to request and receive criminal history record information from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other state and local law<\/span>-enforcement agencies.\n\t\t\tARTICLE II. Definitions.

\t\t\t§ 2. Definitions.

\t\t\t“Compact committee<\/span>” means the organization of officials<\/span> from the party states<\/span> that is authorized and empowered by this compact to carry out the purposes of this compact.

\t\t\t“Official<\/span>” means the appointed, elected, designated or otherwise duly selected representative of a racing commission<\/span> or the equivalent thereof in a party state<\/span> who represents that party state<\/span> as a member<\/span> of the compact committee<\/span>.

\t\t\t“Participants in live racing<\/span>” means participants in live horse racing<\/span> with pari-mutuel wagering<\/span> in the party states<\/span>.

\t\t\t“Party state<\/span>” means each state that has enacted this compact.

\t\t\t“State” means each of the several states of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and each territory or possession<\/span> of the United States.

\t\t\tARTICLE III. Entry into Force, Eligible Parties and Withdrawal.

\t\t\t§ 3. Entry into force.

\t\t\tThis compact shall come into force when enacted by any four states. Thereafter, this compact shall become effective as to any other state upon (i) that state’s enactment of this compact and (ii) the affirmative vote of a majority of the officials<\/span> on the compact committee<\/span> as provided in § 8.

\t\t\t§ 4. States eligible to join compact.

\t\t\tAny state that has adopted or authorized horse racing<\/span> with pari-mutuel wagering<\/span> shall be eligible to become party to this compact.

\t\t\t§ 5. Withdrawal from compact and impact thereof on force and effect of compact.

\t\t\tAny party state<\/span> may withdraw from this compact by enacting a statute<\/span> repealing this compact, but no such withdrawal shall become effective until the head of the executive branch of the withdrawing state has given notice in writing of such withdrawal to the head of the executive branch of all other party states<\/span>. If as a result of withdrawals participation in this compact decreases to less than three party states<\/span>, this compact no longer shall be in force and effect unless and until there are at least three or more party states<\/span> again participating in this compact.

\t\t\tARTICLE IV. Compact Committee<\/span>.

\t\t\t§ 6. Compact committee<\/span> established.

\t\t\tThere is hereby created an interstate governmental entity to be known as the “compact committee<\/span>,” which shall be comprised of one official<\/span> from the racing commission<\/span> or its equivalent in each party state<\/span> who shall be appointed, serve and be subject to removal in accordance with the laws<\/span> of the party state<\/span> he represents. Pursuant to the laws<\/span> of his party state<\/span>, each official<\/span> shall have the assistance of his state’s racing commission<\/span> or the equivalent thereof in considering issues<\/span> related to licensing of participants in live racing<\/span> and in fulfilling his responsibilities as the representative from his state to the compact committee<\/span>. If an official<\/span> is unable to perform any duty in connection with the powers and duties of the compact committee<\/span>, the racing commission<\/span> or equivalent thereof from his state shall designate an alternate who shall serve in his place and represent the party state<\/span> as its official<\/span> on the compact committee<\/span> until that racing commission<\/span> or equivalent thereof determines that the original representative official<\/span> is able once again to perform his duties as that party state<\/span>’s representative official<\/span> on the compact committee<\/span>. The designation of an alternate shall be communicated by the affected state’s racing commission<\/span> or equivalent thereof to the compact committee<\/span> as the committee’s bylaws may provide.

\t\t\t§ 7. Powers and duties of compact committee<\/span>.

\t\t\tIn order<\/span> to carry out the purposes of this compact, the compact committee<\/span> is hereby granted the power and duty to: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Determine which categories of participants in live racing<\/span>, including but not limited to owners, trainers, jockeys, grooms, mutuel clerks, racing officials<\/span>, veterinarians, and farriers, and which categories of equivalent participants in live racing<\/span> with pari-mutuel wagering<\/span> authorized in two or more of the party states<\/span>, should be licensed by the committee, and establish the requirements for the initial licensure of applicants in each such category, the term of the license for each category, and the requirements for renewal of licenses in each category. Provided, however, that with regard to requests for criminal record on the issuance or renewal of a license, the compact committee<\/span> shall determine for each category of participants in live racing<\/span> which licensure requirements for that category are, in its judgment<\/span>, the most restrictive licensure requirements of any party state<\/span> for that category and shall adopt licensure requirements for that category that are, in its judgment<\/span>, comparable to those most restrictive requirements. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Investigate applicants for a license from the compact committee<\/span> and, as permitted by federal and state law<\/span>, gather information on such applicants, including criminal history record information from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and relevant state and local law<\/span>-enforcement agencies, and, where appropriate, from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and law<\/span>-enforcement agencies of other countries, necessary to determine whether a license should be issued under the licensure requirements established by the committee as provided in paragraph 1 of this section. Only officials<\/span> on, and employees of, the compact committee<\/span> may receive and review such criminal history record information, and those officials<\/span> and employees may use that information only for the purposes of this compact. No such official<\/span> or employee may disclose or disseminate such information to any person<\/span> or entity other than another official<\/span> or employee of the compact committee<\/span>. The fingerprints of each applicant for a license from the compact committee<\/span> shall be taken by the compact committee<\/span>, its employees, or its designee and, pursuant to Public Law<\/span> 92-544 or Public Law<\/span> 100-413, shall be forwarded to a state identification bureau, or an association of state officials<\/span> regulating pari-mutuel wagering<\/span> designated by the Attorney General<\/span> of the United States, for submission to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for a criminal history record check. Such fingerprints may be submitted on a fingerprint card or by electronic or other means authorized by the Federal Bureau of Investigation or other receiving law<\/span>-enforcement agency. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Issue<\/span> licenses to, and renew the licenses of, participants in live racing<\/span> listed in paragraph 1 of this section who are found by the committee to have met the licensure and renewal requirements established by the committee. The compact committee<\/span> shall not have the power or authority to deny a license. If it determines that an applicant will not be eligible for the issuance or renewal of a compact committee<\/span> license, the compact committee<\/span> shall notify the applicant that it will not be able to process his application further. Such notification does not constitute and shall not be considered to be the denial of a license. Any such applicant shall have the right to present additional evidence<\/span> to, and to be heard by, the compact committee<\/span>, but the final decision on issuance or renewal of the license shall be made by the compact committee<\/span> using the requirements established pursuant to paragraph 1 of this section. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> Enter into contracts<\/span> or agreements with governmental agencies and with nongovernmental persons<\/span> to provide personal services for its activities and such other services as may be necessary to effectuate the purposes of this compact. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

5.<\/span> Create, appoint, and abolish those offices, employments, and positions, including an executive director, as it deems necessary for the purposes of this compact, prescribe their powers, duties and qualifications, hire persons<\/span> to fill those offices, employments and positions, and provide for the removal, term, tenure, compensation, fringe benefits, retirement benefits and other conditions of employment of its officers, employees and other positions. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

6.<\/span> Borrow, accept, or contract<\/span> for the services of personnel from any state, the United States, or any other governmental agency, or from any person<\/span>, firm, association, corporation or other entity. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

7.<\/span> Acquire, hold, and dispose of real and personal property by gift, purchase, lease, license, or in other similar manner, in furtherance of the purposes of this compact. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

8.<\/span> Charge a fee to each applicant for an initial license or renewal of a license. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

9.<\/span> Receive other funds through gifts, grants and appropriations.\n\t\t\t\u00a7 8. Voting requirements. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Each official<\/span> shall be entitled to one vote on the compact committee<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> All action taken by the compact committee<\/span> with regard to the addition of party states<\/span> as provided in § 3, the licensure of participants in live racing<\/span>, and the receipt and disbursement of funds shall require a majority vote of the total number of officials<\/span> (or their alternates) on the committee. All other action by the compact committee<\/span> shall require a majority vote of those officials<\/span> (or their alternates) present and voting. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> No action of the compact committee<\/span> may be taken unless a quorum is present. A majority of the officials<\/span> (or their alternates) on the compact committee<\/span> shall constitute a quorum.\n\t\t\t\t§ 9. Administration and management. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> The compact committee<\/span> shall elect annually from among its members<\/span> a chairman, a vice-chairman, and a secretary\/treasurer. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The compact committee<\/span> shall adopt bylaws for the conduct of its business by a two-thirds vote of the total number of officials<\/span> (or their alternates) on the committee at that time and shall have the power by the same vote to amend<\/span> and rescind such bylaws. The committee shall publish its bylaws in convenient form and shall file a copy thereof and a copy of any amendments thereto with the secretary of state or equivalent agency of each of the party states<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> The compact committee<\/span> may delegate the day-to-day management and administration of its duties and responsibilities to an executive director and his support staff. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> Employees of the compact committee<\/span> shall be considered governmental employees.\n\t\t\t\t§ 10. Immunity from liability for performance of official<\/span> responsibilities and duties.

\t\t\t\tNo official<\/span> of a party state<\/span> or employee of the compact committee<\/span> shall be held personally liable for any good faith act or omission that occurs during the performance and within the scope of his responsibilities and duties under this compact.

\t\t\t\tARTICLE V. Rights and Responsibilities of Each Party State<\/span>.

\t\t\t\t§ 11. Rights and responsibilities of each party state<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> By enacting this compact, each party state<\/span>: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Agrees (i) to accept the decisions of the compact committee<\/span> regarding the issuance of compact committee<\/span> licenses to participants in live racing<\/span> pursuant to the committee’s licensure requirements and (ii) to reimburse or otherwise pay the expenses of its official<\/span> representative on the compact committee<\/span> or his alternate. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Agrees not to treat a notification to an applicant by the compact committee<\/span> under paragraph 3 of § 7 that the compact committee<\/span> will not be able to process his application further as the denial of a license, or to penalize such an applicant in any other way based solely on such a decision by the compact committee<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Reserves the right (i) to charge a fee for the use of a compact committee<\/span> license in that state, (ii) to apply its own standards in determining whether, on the facts<\/span> of a particular case, a compact committee<\/span> license should be suspended or revoked, (iii) to apply its own standards in determining licensure eligibility, under the laws<\/span> of that party state<\/span>, for categories of participants in live racing<\/span> that the compact committee<\/span> determines not to license and for individual participants in live racing<\/span> who do not meet the licensure requirements of the compact committee<\/span>, and (iv) to establish its own licensure standards for the licensure of nonracing employees at horse racetracks<\/span> and employees at separate satellite wagering facilities. Any party state<\/span> that suspends or revokes a compact committee<\/span> license shall, through its racing commission<\/span> or the equivalent thereof or otherwise, promptly notify the compact committee<\/span> of that suspension or revocation<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> No party state<\/span> shall be held liable for the debts or other financial obligations incurred by the compact committee<\/span>.\n\t\t\t\tARTICLE VI. Construction and Severability.

\t\t\t\t§ 12. Construction and severability.

\t\t\t\tThis compact shall be liberally construed so as to effectuate its purposes. The provisions of this compact shall be severable, and, if any phrase, clause, sentence or provision of this compact is declared to be contrary to the Constitution of the United States or of any party state<\/span>, or the applicability of this compact to any government, agency, person<\/span> or circumstance is held invalid, the validity of the remainder of this compact and the applicability thereof to any government, agency, person<\/span> or circumstance shall not be affected thereby. If all or some portion of this compact is held to be contrary to the constitution of any party state<\/span>, the compact shall remain in full force and effect as to the remaining party states<\/span> and in full force and effect as to the state affected as to all severable matters. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nLIVE HORSERACING COMPACT; FORM OF COMPACT (\u00a7 59.1-394.1)\n\nThe Live Horseracing Compact is enacted into law and entered into with all other\njurisdictions legally joining therein in the form substantially as\nfollows:\t\tARTICLE I. Purposes.\t\t\u00a7 1. Purposes.\t\tThe purposes of this compact\nare to:\n\n1. Establish uniform requirements among the party states for the licensing of\nparticipants in live horse racing with pari-mutuel wagering, and ensure that all\nsuch participants who are licensed pursuant to this compact meet a uniform\nminimum standard of honesty and integrity.\n\n2. Facilitate the growth of the horse racing industry in each party state and\nnationwide by simplifying the process for licensing participants in live racing,\nand reduce the duplicative and costly process of separate licensing by the\nregulatory agency in each state that conducts live horse racing with pari-mutuel\nwagering.\n\n3. Authorize the Virginia Racing Commission to participate in this compact.\n\n4. Provide for participation in this compact by officials of the party states,\nand permit those officials, through the compact committee established by this\ncompact, to enter into contracts with governmental agencies and nongovernmental\npersons to carry out the purposes of this compact.\n\n5. Establish the compact committee created by this compact as an interstate\ngovernmental entity duly authorized to request and receive criminal history\nrecord information from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other state and\nlocal law-enforcement agencies.\n\t\t\tARTICLE II. Definitions.\t\t\t§ 2. Definitions.\t\t\t“Compact\ncommittee” means the organization of officials from the party states that\nis authorized and empowered by this compact to carry out the purposes of this\ncompact.\t\t\t“Official” means the appointed, elected, designated or\notherwise duly selected representative of a racing commission or the equivalent\nthereof in a party state who represents that party state as a member of the\ncompact committee.\t\t\t“Participants in live racing” means\nparticipants in live horse racing with pari-mutuel wagering in the party\nstates.\t\t\t“Party state” means each state that has enacted this\ncompact.\t\t\t“State” means each of the several states of the United\nStates, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and each\nterritory or possession of the United States.\t\t\tARTICLE III. Entry into Force,\nEligible Parties and Withdrawal.\t\t\t§ 3. Entry into force.\t\t\tThis compact\nshall come into force when enacted by any four states. Thereafter, this compact\nshall become effective as to any other state upon (i) that state’s\nenactment of this compact and (ii) the affirmative vote of a majority of the\nofficials on the compact committee as provided in § 8.\t\t\t§ 4. States\neligible to join compact.\t\t\tAny state that has adopted or authorized horse\nracing with pari-mutuel wagering shall be eligible to become party to this\ncompact.\t\t\t§ 5. Withdrawal from compact and impact thereof on force and\neffect of compact.\t\t\tAny party state may withdraw from this compact by enacting\na statute repealing this compact, but no such withdrawal shall become effective\nuntil the head of the executive branch of the withdrawing state has given notice\nin writing of such withdrawal to the head of the executive branch of all other\nparty states. If as a result of withdrawals participation in this compact\ndecreases to less than three party states, this compact no longer shall be in\nforce and effect unless and until there are at least three or more party states\nagain participating in this compact.\t\t\tARTICLE IV. Compact Committee.\t\t\t§\n6. Compact committee established.\t\t\tThere is hereby created an interstate\ngovernmental entity to be known as the “compact committee,” which\nshall be comprised of one official from the racing commission or its equivalent\nin each party state who shall be appointed, serve and be subject to removal in\naccordance with the laws of the party state he represents. Pursuant to the laws\nof his party state, each official shall have the assistance of his state’s\nracing commission or the equivalent thereof in considering issues related to\nlicensing of participants in live racing and in fulfilling his responsibilities\nas the representative from his state to the compact committee. If an official is\nunable to perform any duty in connection with the powers and duties of the\ncompact committee, the racing commission or equivalent thereof from his state\nshall designate an alternate who shall serve in his place and represent the\nparty state as its official on the compact committee until that racing\ncommission or equivalent thereof determines that the original representative\nofficial is able once again to perform his duties as that party state’s\nrepresentative official on the compact committee. The designation of an\nalternate shall be communicated by the affected state’s racing commission\nor equivalent thereof to the compact committee as the committee’s bylaws\nmay provide.\t\t\t§ 7. Powers and duties of compact committee.\t\t\tIn order to\ncarry out the purposes of this compact, the compact committee is hereby granted\nthe power and duty to:\n\n1. Determine which categories of participants in live racing, including but not\nlimited to owners, trainers, jockeys, grooms, mutuel clerks, racing officials,\nveterinarians, and farriers, and which categories of equivalent participants in\nlive racing with pari-mutuel wagering authorized in two or more of the party\nstates, should be licensed by the committee, and establish the requirements for\nthe initial licensure of applicants in each such category, the term of the\nlicense for each category, and the requirements for renewal of licenses in each\ncategory. Provided, however, that with regard to requests for criminal record on\nthe issuance or renewal of a license, the compact committee shall determine for\neach category of participants in live racing which licensure requirements for\nthat category are, in its judgment, the most restrictive licensure requirements\nof any party state for that category and shall adopt licensure requirements for\nthat category that are, in its judgment, comparable to those most restrictive\nrequirements.\n\n2. Investigate applicants for a license from the compact committee and, as\npermitted by federal and state law, gather information on such applicants,\nincluding criminal history record information from the Federal Bureau of\nInvestigation and relevant state and local law-enforcement agencies, and, where\nappropriate, from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and law-enforcement agencies\nof other countries, necessary to determine whether a license should be issued\nunder the licensure requirements established by the committee as provided in\nparagraph 1 of this section. Only officials on, and employees of, the compact\ncommittee may receive and review such criminal history record information, and\nthose officials and employees may use that information only for the purposes of\nthis compact. No such official or employee may disclose or disseminate such\ninformation to any person or entity other than another official or employee of\nthe compact committee. The fingerprints of each applicant for a license from the\ncompact committee shall be taken by the compact committee, its employees, or its\ndesignee and, pursuant to Public Law 92-544 or Public Law 100-413, shall be\nforwarded to a state identification bureau, or an association of state officials\nregulating pari-mutuel wagering designated by the Attorney General of the United\nStates, for submission to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for a criminal\nhistory record check. Such fingerprints may be submitted on a fingerprint card\nor by electronic or other means authorized by the Federal Bureau of\nInvestigation or other receiving law-enforcement agency.\n\n3. Issue licenses to, and renew the licenses of, participants in live racing\nlisted in paragraph 1 of this section who are found by the committee to have met\nthe licensure and renewal requirements established by the committee. The compact\ncommittee shall not have the power or authority to deny a license. If it\ndetermines that an applicant will not be eligible for the issuance or renewal of\na compact committee license, the compact committee shall notify the applicant\nthat it will not be able to process his application further. Such notification\ndoes not constitute and shall not be considered to be the denial of a license.\nAny such applicant shall have the right to present additional evidence to, and\nto be heard by, the compact committee, but the final decision on issuance or\nrenewal of the license shall be made by the compact committee using the\nrequirements established pursuant to paragraph 1 of this section.\n\n4. Enter into contracts or agreements with governmental agencies and with\nnongovernmental persons to provide personal services for its activities and such\nother services as may be necessary to effectuate the purposes of this compact.\n\n5. Create, appoint, and abolish those offices, employments, and positions,\nincluding an executive director, as it deems necessary for the purposes of this\ncompact, prescribe their powers, duties and qualifications, hire persons to fill\nthose offices, employments and positions, and provide for the removal, term,\ntenure, compensation, fringe benefits, retirement benefits and other conditions\nof employment of its officers, employees and other positions.\n\n6. Borrow, accept, or contract for the services of personnel from any state, the\nUnited States, or any other governmental agency, or from any person, firm,\nassociation, corporation or other entity.\n\n7. Acquire, hold, and dispose of real and personal property by gift, purchase,\nlease, license, or in other similar manner, in furtherance of the purposes of\nthis compact.\n\n8. Charge a fee to each applicant for an initial license or renewal of a\nlicense.\n\n9. Receive other funds through gifts, grants and appropriations.\n\t\t\t\u00a7 8. Voting requirements.\n\n A. Each official shall be entitled to one vote on the compact committee.\n\n B. All action taken by the compact committee with regard to the addition of\n party states as provided in § 3, the licensure of participants in live\n racing, and the receipt and disbursement of funds shall require a majority\n vote of the total number of officials (or their alternates) on the committee.\n All other action by the compact committee shall require a majority vote of\n those officials (or their alternates) present and voting.\n\n C. No action of the compact committee may be taken unless a quorum is present.\n A majority of the officials (or their alternates) on the compact committee\n shall constitute a quorum.\n \t\t\t\t§ 9. Administration and management.\n\n A. The compact committee shall elect annually from among its members a\n chairman, a vice-chairman, and a secretary\/treasurer.\n\n B. The compact committee shall adopt bylaws for the conduct of its business by\n a two-thirds vote of the total number of officials (or their alternates) on\n the committee at that time and shall have the power by the same vote to amend\n and rescind such bylaws. The committee shall publish its bylaws in convenient\n form and shall file a copy thereof and a copy of any amendments thereto with\n the secretary of state or equivalent agency of each of the party states.\n\n C. The compact committee may delegate the day-to-day management and\n administration of its duties and responsibilities to an executive director and\n his support staff.\n\n D. Employees of the compact committee shall be considered governmental\n employees.\n \t\t\t\t§ 10. Immunity from liability for performance of official\n responsibilities and duties.\t\t\t\tNo official of a party state or employee of\n the compact committee shall be held personally liable for any good faith act\n or omission that occurs during the performance and within the scope of his\n responsibilities and duties under this compact.\t\t\t\tARTICLE V. Rights and\n Responsibilities of Each Party State.\t\t\t\t§ 11. Rights and\n responsibilities of each party state.\n\n A. By enacting this compact, each party state:\n\n1. Agrees (i) to accept the decisions of the compact committee regarding the\nissuance of compact committee licenses to participants in live racing pursuant\nto the committee’s licensure requirements and (ii) to reimburse or\notherwise pay the expenses of its official representative on the compact\ncommittee or his alternate.\n\n2. Agrees not to treat a notification to an applicant by the compact committee\nunder paragraph 3 of § 7 that the compact committee will not be able to\nprocess his application further as the denial of a license, or to penalize such\nan applicant in any other way based solely on such a decision by the compact\ncommittee.\n\n3. Reserves the right (i) to charge a fee for the use of a compact committee\nlicense in that state, (ii) to apply its own standards in determining whether,\non the facts of a particular case, a compact committee license should be\nsuspended or revoked, (iii) to apply its own standards in determining licensure\neligibility, under the laws of that party state, for categories of participants\nin live racing that the compact committee determines not to license and for\nindividual participants in live racing who do not meet the licensure\nrequirements of the compact committee, and (iv) to establish its own licensure\nstandards for the licensure of nonracing employees at horse racetracks and\nemployees at separate satellite wagering facilities. Any party state that\nsuspends or revokes a compact committee license shall, through its racing\ncommission or the equivalent thereof or otherwise, promptly notify the compact\ncommittee of that suspension or revocation.\n\n B. No party state shall be held liable for the debts or other financial\n obligations incurred by the compact committee.\n \t\t\t\tARTICLE VI. Construction and Severability.\t\t\t\t§ 12. Construction and\n severability.\t\t\t\tThis compact shall be liberally construed so as to effectuate\n its purposes. The provisions of this compact shall be severable, and, if any\n phrase, clause, sentence or provision of this compact is declared to be\n contrary to the Constitution of the United States or of any party state, or\n the applicability of this compact to any government, agency, person or\n circumstance is held invalid, the validity of the remainder of this compact\n and the applicability thereof to any government, agency, person or\n circumstance shall not be affected thereby. If all or some portion of this\n compact is held to be contrary to the constitution of any party state, the\n compact shall remain in full force and effect as to the remaining party states\n and in full force and effect as to the state affected as to all severable\n matters.\n\nHISTORY: 2000, c. 992; 2003, c. 722.","edition":{"id":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}