Section 19578.

(a) It is the intent of the Legislature that the board contract with the Regents of the University of California to provide equine drug testing. It is further the intent of the Legislature that to the extent that resources are available, the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory perform studies that may lead to the development of alternative or improved drug testing techniques.

(b) The Kenneth L. Maddy Equine Analytical Chemistry Laboratory shall be located at the University of California at Davis in order to take advantage of the expertise of the veterinary specialists at that campus' School of Veterinary Medicine. The laboratory shall be a part of the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory. Any capital outlay expenditures for the Kenneth L. Maddy Equine Analytical Chemistry Laboratory shall comply with Section 13332.11 of the Government Code.

(c) Funds collected under Article 9.2 (commencing with Section 19605) and Article 9.5 (commencing with Section 19610) for purposes of the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory and the Center for Equine Health shall be deposited in the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory and Center for Equine Health Account in the Fair and Exposition Fund. Funds deposited in that account constitute trust funds and shall be held in trust and may be expended only for the purposes for which those funds are authorized to be expended pursuant to this section. The funds designated for the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory shall be distributed to that system and shall be used to fund the construction costs, equipment costs, and for the repayment of the principal of, interest on, and costs of issuance of, and as security, including any coverage factor, pledged to the payment of, bonds issued or other debt service or expense, including repayment of any advances made or security required by any provider of credit enhancement or liquidity for those bonds or other indebtedness, or expense of maintaining that credit enhancement or liquidity, incurred for the purpose of constructing the Kenneth L. Maddy Equine Analytical Chemistry Laboratory, and for the operating costs of the Kenneth L. Maddy Equine Analytical Chemistry Laboratory. The funds designated for the Center for Equine Health shall be distributed to the Center for Equine Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis.

(d) Title to the Kenneth L. Maddy Equine Analytical Chemistry Laboratory shall vest in the Regents of the University of California. The laboratory shall be used in a manner that is consistent with Section 19577 and this section.

(e) The board shall contract to provide compensation for an equine medical director who shall advise the Kenneth L. Maddy Equine Analytical Chemistry Laboratory and be appointed by the Dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine under applicable university hiring rules with the advice of the board. The equine medical director shall be a member of the scientific advisory committee to the Kenneth L. Maddy Equine Analytical Chemistry Laboratory, and act as the primary advisor to the board on all matters relating to medication and drug testing, the practice of veterinary medicine within the areas regulated by the board, and the health and safety of horses within the inclosure.

(f) The budget for equine drug testing to be performed by the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory pursuant to Section 19577 shall be established as a permanent line item in the budget of the board. Operating budget requests shall be submitted annually by the university, and the board shall transfer funds appropriated for the operation of the laboratory and for equipment, in accordance with the contract, to the university.

(g) The board and the University of California may expand the services provided by the laboratory to the board in a manner that is mutually agreeable and is consistent with Section 19577 and this section.

(Amended by Stats. 2000, Ch. 1082, Sec. 75. Effective January 1, 2001.)