Section 19601.4.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a fair, combination of fairs, or an association conducting racing at a fair, may, after approval from the board, deduct an additional 1 percent from the total amount handled daily in its conventional and exotic pools. The additional 1 percent shall be deposited into the Inclosure Facilities Improvement Fund, which is hereby created as a special fund in the State Treasury, the moneys of which are available upon appropriation by the Legislature in the annual Budget Act. Any moneys deducted from the handle pursuant to this section shall be used solely for the purpose of facilities maintenance and improvements at a fair's racetrack inclosure for those fairs that contribute to, or for those fairs where an association conducting racing at that fair contributes to, the Inclosure Facilities Improvement Fund.

(b)  The secretary shall appoint a committee of not more than five and no fewer than three individuals with expertise in financing, constructing, and managing horse racing facilities, to advise in the administration of the funds. The secretary shall have oversight over the committee. The secretary shall adhere to the same oversight responsibilities as outlined in Section 19620 when administering the funds contributed and disbursed pursuant to this section.

(c) The secretary shall include in the annual expenditure plan required pursuant to Section 19621 any allocations made pursuant to this section.

(d) For purposes of this section, "secretary" means the Secretary of Food and Agriculture.

(Added by Stats. 2007, Ch. 613, Sec. 7. Effective January 1, 2008.)