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AB-1020 Tribal gaming: compact ratification.(2011-2012)

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AB1020:v95#DOCUMENT

Assembly Bill No. 1020
CHAPTER 27

An act to repeal and add Section 12012.54 of the Government Code, relating to tribal gaming, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately.

[ Approved by Governor  June 13, 2011. Filed with Secretary of State  June 13, 2011. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 1020, Chesbro. Tribal gaming: compact ratification.
Existing federal law, the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, provides for the negotiation and execution of tribal-state gaming compacts for the purpose of authorizing certain types of gaming on Indian lands within a state. The California Constitution authorizes the Governor to negotiate and conclude compacts, subject to ratification by the Legislature. Existing law ratified the tribal-state gaming compact entered into between the State of California and the Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake, executed on September 2, 2009, but that compact was later rejected by the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs.
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a lead agency to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify the completion of, an environmental impact report on a project, as defined, that it proposes to carry out or approve that may have a significant effect on the environment, as defined, or to adopt a negative declaration if it finds that the project will not have that effect.
This bill would repeal the ratification of the tribal-state gaming compact entered into between the State of California and the Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake, executed on September 2, 2009, and would ratify a new tribal-state gaming compact entered into between the State of California and the Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake, executed on March 17, 2011. The bill would provide that, in deference to tribal sovereignty, certain actions may not be deemed projects for purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act. By imposing additional duties on a lead agency with regard to the implementation of CEQA requirements, this bill would increase the service provided by a local agency, thereby creating a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.
Vote: 2/3   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: YES  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 12012.54 of the Government Code is repealed.

SEC. 2.

 Section 12012.54 is added to the Government Code, to read:

12012.54.
 (a) The tribal-state gaming compact entered into in accordance with the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 (18 U.S.C. Secs. 1166 to 1168, incl., and 25 U.S.C. Sec. 2701 et seq.) between the State of California and the Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake, executed on March 17, 2011, is hereby ratified.
(b) (1) In deference to tribal sovereignty, none of the following shall be deemed a project for purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act (Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code):
(A) The execution of an amendment to the tribal-state gaming compact ratified by this section.
(B) The execution of the tribal-state gaming compact ratified by this section.
(C) The execution of an intergovernmental agreement between a tribe and a county or city government negotiated pursuant to the express authority of, or as expressly referenced in, the tribal-state gaming compact ratified by this section.
(D) The execution of an intergovernmental agreement between a tribe and the California Department of Transportation negotiated pursuant to the express authority of, or as expressly referenced in, the tribal-state gaming compact ratified by this section.
(E) The on-reservation impacts of compliance with the terms of the tribal-state gaming compact ratified by this section.
(F) The sale of compact assets, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 63048.6, or the creation of the special purpose trust established pursuant to Section 63048.65.
(2) Except as expressly provided herein, nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to exempt a city, county, or city and county, or the California Department of Transportation, from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act.

SEC. 3.

 No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because a local agency or school district has the authority to levy service charges, fees, or assessments sufficient to pay for the program or level of service mandated by this act, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code.

SEC. 4.

 This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the meaning of Article IV of the Constitution and shall go into immediate effect. The facts constituting the necessity are:
In order to allow the revenues from this act to be eligible for revenue sharing at the earliest possible time to address some of the state’s pressing budget issues, it is necessary that this act take effect immediately.