Section 19464.

(a) No application for a horse owner's license or for a license to conduct a race meeting shall be granted unless the applicant's liability for workers' compensation is secured in accordance with Division 4 (commencing with Section 3700) of the Labor Code. Any termination of security for that liability during the period of a license shall result in the immediate automatic suspension of the license during the period of that termination and also shall be a ground for revocation of the license.

(b) No application for a license to conduct a race meeting shall be granted unless the applicant has deposited with the board a surety bond in the amount of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), or a greater amount, as determined by the board, which is sufficient to ensure payment of employee wages and benefits including, but not limited to, health, welfare, and pension plans. The surety bond shall be maintained during the period of the meeting and for an additional period, as determined by the board, sufficient to assure that all payments are made. In the event of a dispute over the amount owed, the dispute shall be resolved through the grievance procedures set forth in the labor agreement of the union representing the class of employees affected.

For the purposes of this subdivision, an insured certificate of deposit payable to the Treasurer of the State of California shall be considered equivalent to a surety bond and shall be acceptable to the board upon such terms and conditions as it may prescribe. Interest paid to the state on the certificate of deposit shall be refunded to the applicant.

This subdivision does not apply to any person or association licensed to operate a horse race meeting prior to January 1, 2001, which has conducted a race meeting in each of the immediate three previous consecutive calendar years.

(Amended by Stats. 2000, Ch. 1082, Sec. 29. Effective January 1, 2001.)