12012.117.
(a) (1) The third amendment between the State of California and the Big Sandy Rancheria of Western Mono Indians of California, executed on December 12, 2024, entered into in accordance with the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 (18 U.S.C. Secs. 1166 to 1168, inclusive, and 25 U.S.C. Sec. 2701 et seq.) for the sole purpose of extending the terms of the existing tribal-state gaming compact, executed on September 10, 1999, is hereby ratified. (2) (A) The Legislature finds and declares that the tribal-state gaming compact between the State of California and the Big Sandy Rancheria of Western Mono Indians of California, executed on January 16, 2024, and ratified by Assembly Bill 2032 (Chapter
304 of the Statutes of 2024), was disapproved by the United States Secretary of the Interior under the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 (18 U.S.C. Secs. 1166 to 1168, inclusive, and 25 U.S.C. Sec. 2701 et seq.) due to the absence of statewide exclusivity provisions for Class III gaming operations.
(B) The amendment between the State of California and the Big Sandy Rancheria of Western Mono Indians of California, executed on December 12, 2024, entered into in accordance with the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 (18 U.S.C. Secs. 1166 to 1168, inclusive, and 25 U.S.C. Sec. 2701 et seq.) to include provisions in the tribal-state gaming compact, executed on January 16, 2024, to ensure the Big Sandy Rancheria of Western Mono Indians of California retains exclusivity over Class III gaming operations within the state, 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 a tribal-state gaming compact ratified by this section.
(B) The execution of an amended 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, an amended tribal-state gaming compact ratified by this section.
(D) The execution of an intergovernmental agreement between a tribe and the Department of
Transportation, or other state agency, negotiated pursuant to the express authority of, or as expressly referenced in, an amended tribal-state gaming compact ratified by this section.
(E) The on-reservation impacts of compliance with the terms of an amended tribal-state gaming compact ratified by this section.
(F) The construction of any infrastructure project that provides ingress and egress across fee land owned by the tribe onto land held in trust by the United States for the benefit of the tribe.
(G) The development and expansion of an electrical substation undertaken to support a tribal facility located on land held in trust by the United States for the benefit of the tribe.
(2) Except as expressly provided in this section, this subdivision
does not exempt a city, county, or city and county, or the Department of Transportation, or any state agency or local jurisdiction, from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act.