For the purpose of enabling the commission to exercise and maintain a proper control over racing conducted under this chapter, the commission may adopt rules for the licensing, with or without fee in the discretion of the commission, of owners, trainers, drivers, grooms and all other persons participating in harness racing, including pari-mutuel employees and race officials. The commission may issue conditional licenses to owners, trainers, drivers, grooms and all other persons participating in harness racing, including pari-mutuel employees and race officials, if one or more criteria are not met as contained in the commission rules. A person issued a license as a trainer shall submit a horse for testing in accordance with section 279?E. [PL 2019, c. 283, §1 (AMD).]

The commission, in consultation with the department, shall set licensing and license renewal fees sufficient to carry out the administration and enforcement of the licensing program. These fees may not exceed $100 annually. The department shall provide public access to the harness racing statutes and rules. [PL 2019, c. 283, §1 (AMD).]

The commission may adopt rules for the conduct on the race track and grounds of owners, trainers, drivers, grooms and all other persons participating in harness racing. The rules must be reasonably necessary for any one or more of the following purposes: to protect the wagering public, to protect the State’s share of pari-mutuel pools, to protect the health and welfare of spectators and participating owners, trainers, drivers, grooms and all other persons participating in harness racing, including pari-mutuel employees and race officials, and to protect the health and welfare of standardbred horses. [PL 2019, c. 283, §1 (AMD).]

The commission may adopt rules establishing allowable levels of permitted medications carried in the body of a horse while participating in races licensed by the commission. In addition, the commission may adopt rules establishing prohibited substances that may not be present in the body of a horse while participating in races licensed by the commission. [PL 2019, c. 283, §1 (NEW).]

The District Court Judge may revoke or suspend any license for violations of this chapter or the rules. [PL 1991, c. 579, §13 (AMD); PL 1999, c. 547, Pt. B, §78 (AMD); PL 1999, c. 547, Pt. B, §80 (AFF).]