ARCADIA, Calif. (Aug. 22, 2012) — AB 1313 imposes costly new mandates on California farmers that will limit their ability to maintain their operations and will place them at a competitive disadvantage. Given the seasonal and unique nature of agriculture production, farmers are exempted under both state and federal law from the eight-hour workday so as to provide farmers with greater flexibility with scheduling employees. Currently, farmers are required to pay overtime to their employees after ten hours of work in any workday or after six days of work in any workweek. AB 1313 would remove this exemption and force farmers to pay overtime rates to agricultural employees after eight hours of work in any workday or forty hours of work in a workweek. Removal of this exemption will significantly increase farmers’ cost of doing business. During a time in which farmers in California are struggling to keep their farms open, this increased burden will force them to: 1. Completely shut down; 2. Avoid overtime by limiting employees’ hours, thereby... ...

From LA Times SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Oct. 1, 2013) – Gov. Jerry Brown approved a number of measures related to horse racing. One bill, by Assemblywoman Toni Atkins (D-San Diego), could put the Del Mar race track in the running to host the prestigious Breeders’ Cup. The measure, AB 1074, enables the California Horse Racing Board to divvy up the 2014 and 2015 racing dates previously allocated to Inglewood’s Hollywood Park, which is set to close in December. Del Mar, which has never hosted a Breeders’ Cup, could be poised to snag the 2015 contest. Its allotment for that year includes dates in the late-fall period when the two-day event is traditionally held. The wooing has already begun. Josh Rubenstein, chief operating officer of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Racing Club, said representatives of the track had their first official meeting with the Breeders’ Cup board in June. This year’s cup will be held Nov. 1-2 at Santa Anita. The Arcadia track also will host in 2014. Acting on a related bill,... ...

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Aug. 17, 2013) — Governor Brown on Friday signed AB 1388, the bill sponsored by the California Horse Council that changes the requirement for a negative Coggin’s test for horses coming into the state from six months to one year. “This means less money spent by horsemen,” said Bob Fox, legislative analyst for the California Horse Council. “It’s a significant savings to any horsemen bringing horses into the state. “We sponsored this bill because the incidence of equine infectious anemia has dropped so dramatically that veterinarians agreed the six-month timeframe was really unnecessary and one year would be perfectly adequate. So, we’re able to provide savings to the horsemen without increasing the risk of exposure to horses.” The California Horse Council is a non-profit association established to represent and assist a diverse group of horsemen in California. It tracks legislation and keeps horsemen informed about California legislation and regulation. ...

From AHC WASHINGTON, D.C. (Apr. 18, 2013) — On April 17, the “Gang of Eight” a bipartisan group of senators, including Senators Schumer (D-NY), McCain (R-AZ), Durbin (D-IL), Graham (R-SC), Menendez (D-NJ), Rubio (R-FL), Bennet (D-CO), and Flake (R-AZ), introduced the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013. The bill would increase border security, provide a path for unauthorized immigrants to remain in the country and eventually apply for citizenship, implement an employment verification system, and improve current and create new temporary guest worker programs.  If comprehensive immigration is debated by Congress in the coming months this bill will likely be the basis for reform. Comprehensive immigration reform has been a priority of the horse industry for many years. The difficulty horse farms, horse shows, trainers and others have had recruiting American workers has forced many to rely on foreign workers and utilize both the H-2B and H-2A temporary foreign worker programs to meet their labor needs. However, the current system is not reliable and is extremely... ...

From NTRA WASHINGTON, D.C. (Feb. 28, 2013) — The massive federal spending cuts that face almost every U.S. government agency are set to begin Friday, March 1, 2013. These automatic across-the-board cuts, referred to as “sequestration,” will total $1.2 trillion over 10 years.  Of this total, $85 billion in military and domestic discretionary spending reductions are scheduled for the remainder of the current fiscal year that ends September 30. Sequestration is the result of attempts by Congress and the Obama administration to gain control of the growth in national debt. It has been scheduled to begin for more than a year but Congress and the President delayed the start until March 1 as part of the fiscal cliff negotiations that ended on New Year’s Day. What impact sequestration will have on the overall U.S. economy and government services/programs is unclear and it may take several months to become evident. The NTRA’s federal legislative team maintains a daily presence in Washington, D.C. to closely monitor and act on those issues that... ...

From NTRA WASHINGTON, D.C. (Feb. 7, 2013) — Comprehensive immigration reform proposals are being circulated on Capitol Hill and the future of the H-2B visa program may be impacted during the process. In the horse racing industry, trainers regularly utilize the H-2B visa program to hire stable help. The H-2B program also is utilized by employers in numerous other industries with temporary, non-agricultural positions that they are unable to fill with local workers. Examples of such industries include forestry, resort/hospitality, landscaping and seafood processing. The National Thoroughbred Racing Association, as a member of the H-2B Workforce Coalition, is working with these and other industries to preserve and protect the H-2B visa program during the comprehensive immigration reform process. Earlier this week, the H-2B Coalition held a briefing in Washington, D.C. that featured speakers from various industries and employers that use the program. The standing room-only crowd included at least 52 Congressional staff members who heard impassioned speeches about the importance of the H-2B program. The briefing was followed by a... ...

From NTRA WASHINGTON, D.C. (Dec. 13, 2012) — Internet gaming legislation may surface during the current lame duck session of Congress. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and other proponents may introduce a bill to legalize Internet poker, similar to what occurred in the lame duck session that followed the 2010 elections when Sen. Reid proposed a draft Internet gaming bill. The NTRA’s federal legislative team remains active in all discussions related to the development of Internet poker legislation due to its potential impact on horse racing. Such expansion of online gambling is certain to increase competition for our industry’s growing advance deposit wagering market. The NTRA will oppose unless our team secures a series of provisions that serve to protect horse racing. The list includes 1) no additional regulatory authority over our industry; 2) language clarifying that the Wire Act does not apply to wagers made permissible under the Interstate Horseracing Act because the new bill would amend the federal Wire Act, making horse racing’s current protection vulnerable; 3)... ...

Governor Vetoes Bills Targeting Ag From Western Growers SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Oct. 1, 2012) — Western Growers applauds California Governor Jerry Brown for his responsible action in the veto of AB 2346 and AB 2676. The legislation would have exposed farmers to abusive private lawsuits and extended liability as well as criminal sanctions even when no harm occurred.  These bills were part of a political agenda, not a policy objective. ...

From NTRA WASHINGTON, D.C. (Sept. 27, 2012) — Congress passed a six month continuing resolution (CR) last week to fund government agencies through March 2013. For the Thoroughbred industry, the CR impacts those who employ H-2B temporary foreign workers by prohibiting the Department of Labor (DOL) from enforcing a new H-2B wage rule. This new rule could significantly raise the rates employers must pay H-2B workers. The controversial H-2B wage rule originally was to begin on January 1, 2012 but the DOL was forced by Congress last December to delay this until the start of the federal government’s next fiscal year on October 1, 2012. Last week’s CR further delays implementation of the rule. Congress uses a CR when it fails to pass a formal appropriations bill before the end of the Congressional fiscal year (October 1-September 30). Congress passed no appropriations bills this year. Additionally, a federal district court judge in Florida is expected to soon provide a ruling in a case on the future of an H-2B program... ...

From Platinum Advisors SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Sept. 5, 2012) — In a huge victory for Agriculture, the Assembly failed to pass AB 1313 (Allen) which would have required overtime after 8 hours for agricultural workers. AB 1313 went up for a final vote just before midnight on August 31st, the final day of the 2011-2012 Session. CTBA worked closely with agricultural interests including CFB, Western Growers and agricultural associations in efforts to kill the overtime bill. The United Farm Workers Union, sponsors of the bill, worked equally hard to pass the measure. The measure failed with a final vote of 35-33 with 12 not voting. Many thanks to CTBA members who made phone calls to targeted legislators asking them for a “no” vote or not to vote. Your efforts helped secure a tremendous victory. We would also like to thank the key legislators who really responded to the Breeders in California. They include Connie Conway and the Republican Caucus, as well as members of the Democratic Caucus for their support: Toni... ...

From NTRA WASHINGTON, D.C. (Sept. 20, 2012) — Earlier this year, it appeared that Congress would pass new legislation before the current farm bill expires on September 30th, but it now appears likely that Congress will allow the current bill to lapse. The Senate passed a new five year farm bill several weeks ago.  However, the House is far from passing the Senate version of the farm bill due to severe pressure from conservatives who have a strong dislike for the multiple spending programs found in the Senate bill.  With the House and Senate far apart, there is virtually no chance that a long-term deal can be reached on a new bill before the current bill expires. It is possible that Congress will pass yet another extension of the current farm bill, as they have done many times before, to allow more time to negotiate a longer term solution. But even that approach is now in question as adjournment looms.  Thus, in spite of increasing pressure from agricultural states and... ...

From NTRA WASHINGTON, D.C. (Aug. 30, 2012) — Earlier this month the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Agricultural Disaster Assistance Act of 2012 (H.R. 6233). This bill would provide supplemental agricultural disaster assistance for fiscal year 2012 to affected livestock and crop producers and reauthorize several related programs that expired last year. Farms that are in business to breed, raise and sell horses and are located in declared disaster areas would be eligible for these assistance programs. However, horses held exclusively for racing would not qualify. Horse breeding farms that suffered through the extreme drought conditions that plagued many parts of the country earlier this summer or those that currently are battling flood waters from Hurricane Isaac are examples of potential qualified producers in this bill. The next step in the legislative process would be for the Senate to pass this bill. With Congress in recess, it is not certain when the upper chamber may take action. Another opportunity for these programs to be reauthorized exists in the next... ...

By Steve Andersen DRF.com ARCADIA, Calif.–The newly created Golden State Series for California-breds, a calendar of lucrative stakes this year, could attract more than 1,000 nominations by Wednesday’s deadline, according to California Thoroughbred Breeders Association executive director Doug Burge. http://www.drf.com/news/golden-state-series-could-exceed-1000-nomination… ...