The Florida Senate

550.09514  Greyhound dogracing taxes; purse requirements.--

(1)  Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 550.0951(3)(b), wagering on greyhound racing is subject to a tax on handle for live greyhound racing at the rate of 7.6 percent of handle. Each permitholder shall pay the tax on live handle in excess of $100,000 per performance until such time as this subsection has resulted in a tax savings per state fiscal year of $360,000. Thereafter, each permitholder shall pay the tax provided in this subsection on all handle for the remainder of the permitholder's current race meet, and the tax must be calculated and commence beginning the day after the biweekly period in which the permitholder reaches the maximum tax savings per state fiscal year provided in this section. For the three permitholders which conducted a full schedule of live racing in 1995, and are closest to another state which authorizes greyhound pari-mutuel wagering, the maximum tax savings per state fiscal year shall be $500,000. The provisions of this subsection relating to tax exemptions shall not apply to any charity or scholarship performances conducted pursuant to s. 550.0351.

(2)

(a)  The division shall determine for each greyhound permitholder the annual purse percentage rate of live handle for the state fiscal year 1993-1994 by dividing total purses paid on live handle by the permitholder, exclusive of payments made from outside sources, during the 1993-1994 state fiscal year by the permitholder's live handle for the 1993-1994 state fiscal year. Each permitholder shall pay as purses for live races conducted during its current race meet a percentage of its live handle not less than the percentage determined under this paragraph, exclusive of payments made by outside sources, for its 1993-1994 state fiscal year.

(b)

1.  Except as otherwise provided herein, in addition to the minimum purse percentage required by paragraph (a), each permitholder shall pay as purses, for fiscal year 1996-1997, an amount equal to 75 percent of the permitholder's tax credit pursuant to s. 550.0951(1).

2.  Except as otherwise set forth herein, in addition to the minimum purse percentage required by paragraph (a), beginning July 1, 1997, each permitholder shall pay as purses an amount equal to 75 percent of the daily license fees paid by each permitholder for the 1994-1995 fiscal year. For the greyhound permitholders in the county where there are two greyhound permitholders located as specified in s. 550.615(6), such permitholders shall pay in the aggregate an amount equal to 75 percent of the daily license fees paid by such permitholders for the 1994-1995 fiscal year. These permitholders shall be jointly and severally liable for such purse payments.

The additional purses provided by this paragraph must be used exclusively for purses other than stakes. The division shall conduct audits necessary to ensure compliance with this section.

(c)  The division shall require sufficient documentation from each greyhound permitholder regarding purses paid on live racing and greyhound intertrack and simulcast broadcasts to assure that the annual purse percentage rates paid by each permitholder on the intertrack or simulcast broadcasts are not reduced below those paid during the 1993-1994 state fiscal year. In addition, each greyhound permitholder when conducting live races shall pay purses on wagers it accepts as a guest track on intertrack and simulcast greyhound races at the same rate as it pays on live races. Each greyhound permitholder acting as a host track shall pay purses, at the same rate as it pays on live races, on wagers accepted on such races at a guest track which is not conducting live racing and is located within the same market area as the host.

(d)  Each greyhound permitholder who conducted live racing in state fiscal year 1993-1994 shall submit to the division by September 1, 1996, purse payment records and copies of purse contracts pertaining to greyhound racing that were in effect during state fiscal year 1993-1994.

(3)  For the purpose of this section, the term "live handle" means the handle from wagers placed at the permitholder's establishment on the live greyhound races conducted at the permitholder's establishment.

History.--s. 6, ch. 96-364.