§ 23-111-505 - Additional racing days for benefit of indigent patients, etc. - Arkansas Statutes

23-111-505. Additional racing days for benefit of indigent patients, etc.

(a) The Arkansas Racing Commission is authorized to allow each dog racing franchise holder to conduct fifteen (15) additional days of racing during each twelve-month period. The additional days of racing may be divided between each of the two (2) racing meets allowed by 23-111-502, or all the additional days of racing may be added to a single racing meet as determined by the commission. In the event the additional days allowed by the commission fall upon a Saturday or Saturdays, then the franchise holder, at its option, may conduct daylight racing as authorized for a regular racing meet.

(b) (1) All revenue derived from the pari-mutuel tax at the fifteen (15) additional days of racing authorized by subsection (a) of this section after moneys have been remitted by the franchise holder to Mid-South Community College as provided by 23-111-517 shall be deposited with the Treasurer of State as special revenue for credit to the Indigent Patients Fund, to be used by Mississippi County, Poinsett County, Cross County, St. Francis County, and Lee County to defray the cost of hospitalization and other medical services of indigent Arkansas patients in health care facilities for which the county has not received total reimbursement.

(2) Each county shall certify to the Chief Fiscal Officer of the State the amount of the unreimbursed medical expenses under such procedures and such detail as required by the Department of Finance and Administration.

(3) The amount available to each county shall be no more than one-fifth (1/5) of the total funds available or the amount certified of unreimbursed medical expenses, whichever is less.

(c) The commission is authorized to allow each dog racing franchise holder to conduct two (2) additional days of racing at any dog racing meet. The net proceeds derived from these additional days shall be deposited with the city treasurer or collector of the city in which the dog racing track is located for credit to the city general fund to be used for providing assistance and relief to disaster victims, indigent persons, organizations which assist such persons, and for education purposes.