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An Audit Report on Racetrack License Application Processing at the Racing Commission

June 2010

Report Number 10-031

Overall Conclusion

The Racing Commission (Agency) should improve its processing of racetrack license applications by establishing (1) a central repository of information for racetrack license applications and any related documentation and (2) detailed policies and procedures for racetrack license application processing.

The racetrack license application files that auditors reviewed were not complete. The Texas Racing Act requires that non-confidential racetrack license application information be maintained and available for public inspection. Incomplete application files may hinder the Agency's ability to comply in a timely and complete manner with Public Information Act requests for information related to racetrack license application files.

The Agency does not have written, detailed policies and procedures that provide guidance to Agency staff who perform the racetrack license application review process. The documentation the Agency provided when auditors requested policies and procedures did not contain specific procedure steps necessary to help ensure that staff process applications in a thorough and consistent manner.

The Agency substantially complied with the Texas Racing Act and the Texas Administrative Code when it processed the five racetrack license applications that auditors tested. However, neither the Texas Racing Act nor the Texas Administrative Code specifies a maximum number of days within which the Agency must process racetrack license applications. The Agency's processing of these applications took from 81 to 1,146 calendar days. Many factors, including the completeness of an application, can affect the amount of time the Agency takes to process a racetrack license application. Application processing also can require the involvement of the Department of Public Safety, the Department of Transportation, and the State Office of Administrative Hearings.

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