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AB-1606 Tribal gaming: compact ratification.(2017-2018)

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Date Published: 10/03/2017 09:00 PM
AB1606:v94#DOCUMENT

Assembly Bill No. 1606
CHAPTER 453

An act to add Section 12012.81 to the Government Code, relating to tribal gaming, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately.

[ Approved by Governor  October 03, 2017. Filed with Secretary of State  October 03, 2017. ]

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 1606, Cooper. Tribal gaming: compact ratification.
Existing federal law, the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988, 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 tribal-state gaming compacts, subject to ratification by the Legislature. Existing law expressly ratifies a number of tribal-state gaming compacts, and amendments of tribal-state gaming compacts, between the State of California and specified Indian tribes.
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 ratify the tribal-state gaming compact entered into between the State of California and the Wilton Rancheria, executed on July 19, 2017. The bill would provide that, in deference to tribal sovereignty, certain actions related to that compact are not projects for purposes of CEQA.
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: NO  

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


SECTION 1.

 Section 12012.81 is added to the Government Code, to read:

12012.81.
 (a) The tribal-state gaming compact 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.) between the State of California and the Wilton Rancheria, executed on July 19, 2017, 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 Department of Transportation, or other state agency, 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 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.

SEC. 2.

 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 California Constitution and shall go into immediate effect. The facts constituting the necessity are:
In order to enhance, at the earliest possible time, the economic development, long-term stability, and self-sufficiency of the Wilton Rancheria, and to protect the interests of the tribe and its members, the surrounding community, and the California public, it is necessary for this act to take effect immediately.