(230 ILCS 5/30.5)

Sec. 30.5. Illinois Racing Quarter Horse Breeders Fund.

(a) The General Assembly declares that it is the policy of this State to encourage the breeding of racing quarter horses in this State and the ownership of such horses by residents of this State in order to provide for sufficient numbers of high quality racing quarter horses in this State and to establish and preserve the agricultural and commercial benefits of such breeding and racing industries to the State of Illinois. It is the intent of the General Assembly to further this policy by the provisions of this Act.

(b) There is hereby created a special fund in the State Treasury to be known as the Illinois Racing Quarter Horse Breeders Fund. Except as provided in subsection (g) of Section 27 of this Act, 8.5% of all the moneys received by the State as pari-mutuel taxes on quarter horse racing shall be paid into the Illinois Racing Quarter Horse Breeders Fund. The Illinois Racing Quarter Horse Breeders Fund shall not be subject to administrative charges or chargebacks, including, but not limited to, those authorized under Section 8h of the State Finance Act.

(c) The Illinois Racing Quarter Horse Breeders Fund shall be administered by the Department of Agriculture with the advice and assistance of the Advisory Board created in subsection (d) of this Section.

(d) The Illinois Racing Quarter Horse Breeders Fund Advisory Board shall consist of the Director of the Department of Agriculture, who shall serve as Chairman; a member of the Illinois Racing Board, designated by it; one representative of the organization licensees conducting pari-mutuel quarter horse racing meetings, recommended by them; 2 representatives of the Illinois Running Quarter Horse Association, recommended by it; and the Superintendent of Fairs and Promotions from the Department of Agriculture. Advisory Board members shall serve for 2 years commencing January 1 of each odd numbered year. If representatives have not been recommended by January 1 of each odd numbered year, the Director of the Department of Agriculture may make an appointment for the organization failing to so recommend a member of the Advisory Board. Advisory Board members shall receive no compensation for their services as members but may be reimbursed for all actual and necessary expenses and disbursements incurred in the execution of their official duties.

(e) Moneys in the Illinois Racing Quarter Horse Breeders Fund shall be expended by the Department of Agriculture, with the advice and assistance of the Illinois Racing Quarter Horse Breeders Fund Advisory Board, for the following purposes only:

(1) To provide stakes and awards to be paid to the owners of the winning horses in certain races. This provision is limited to Illinois conceived and foaled horses.

(2) To provide an award to the owner or owners of an Illinois conceived and foaled horse that wins a race when pari-mutuel wagering is conducted; providing the race is not restricted to Illinois conceived and foaled horses.

(3) To provide purse money for an Illinois stallion stakes program.

(4) To provide for purses to be distributed for the running of races during the Illinois State Fair and the DuQuoin State Fair exclusively for quarter horses conceived and foaled in Illinois.

(5) To provide for purses to be distributed for the running of races at Illinois county fairs exclusively for quarter horses conceived and foaled in Illinois.

(6) To provide for purses to be distributed for running races exclusively for quarter horses conceived and foaled in Illinois at locations in Illinois determined by the Department of Agriculture with advice and consent of the Illinois Racing Quarter Horse Breeders Fund Advisory Board.

(7) No less than 90% of all moneys appropriated from the Illinois Racing Quarter Horse Breeders Fund shall be expended for the purposes in items (1), (2), (3), (4), and (5) of this subsection (e).

(8) To provide for research programs concerning the health, development, and care of racing quarter horses.

(9) To provide for dissemination of public information designed to promote the breeding of racing quarter horses in Illinois.

(10) To provide for expenses incurred in the administration of the Illinois Racing Quarter Horse Breeders Fund.

(f) The Department of Agriculture shall, by rule, with the advice and assistance of the Illinois Racing Quarter Horse Breeders Fund Advisory Board:

(1) Qualify stallions for Illinois breeding; such stallions to stand for service within the State of Illinois, at the time of a foal's conception. Such stallion must not stand for service at any place outside the State of Illinois during the calendar year in which the foal is conceived. The Department of Agriculture may assess and collect application fees for the registration of Illinois-eligible stallions. All fees collected are to be paid into the Illinois Racing Quarter Horse Breeders Fund.

(2) Provide for the registration of Illinois conceived and foaled horses. No such horse shall compete in the races limited to Illinois conceived and foaled horses unless it is registered with the Department of Agriculture. The Department of Agriculture may prescribe such forms as are necessary to determine the eligibility of such horses. The Department of Agriculture may assess and collect application fees for the registration of Illinois-eligible foals. All fees collected are to be paid into the Illinois Racing Quarter Horse Breeders Fund. No person shall knowingly prepare or cause preparation of an application for registration of such foals that contains false information.

(g) The Department of Agriculture, with the advice and assistance of the Illinois Racing Quarter Horse Breeders Fund Advisory Board, shall provide that certain races limited to Illinois conceived and foaled be stakes races and determine the total amount of stakes and awards to be paid to the owners of the winning horses in such races.

(Source: P.A. 101-31, eff. 6-28-19.)