BILL NUMBER: AB 2026	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  JULY 1, 2008
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 18, 2008
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 23, 2008

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Levine

                        FEBRUARY 15, 2008

   An act  to add Article 18 (commencing with Section 19990)
to Chapter 5 of Division 8 of the Business and Professions Code,
  relating to gaming.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2026, as amended, Levine. Gaming.
   The Gambling Control Act provides for the licensure of certain
individuals and establishments involved in various gambling
activities, and for the regulation of those activities by the
California Gambling Control Commission. Existing law provides for the
enforcement of those regulations by the Department of Justice. Any
violation of these provisions is punishable as a misdemeanor, as
specified. 
   This bill would require the Gambling Control Commission and the
Bureau of Gambling Control within the Department of Justice to
prepare a study containing suggested guidelines for the play of poker
on the Internet, as specified, and provide a structure for
regulation for gambling establishments and tribal governments to
offer poker on the Internet. The bill would require the Legislative
Analyst to analyze the proposed guidelines and structure developed in
the study and assess the potential volume of business and future
revenues to the state from gambling establishments and tribal
governments that might offer Internet poker. The bill would include a
statement of legislative intent in this regard.  
   This bill would require the Bureau of Gambling Control within the
Department of Justice to adopt regulations, in consultation with the
California Gambling Control Commission, on or before July 1, 2009,
governing the intrastate play of various Internet poker games to be
offered by licensed gambling establishments, as specified. The bill
would require licensed gambling establishments to register with the
commission to engage in intrastate Internet poker games on their Web
sites, and would authorize the commission to charge a registration
fee. Because any violation of these provisions would be punishable as
a misdemeanor, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program
by creating a new crime.  
   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. 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program:  yes   no  .


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   SECTION 1.    The Gambling Control Commission and the
Bureau of Gambling Control within the Department of Justice shall
prepare a study containing suggested guidelines for the play of poker
on the Internet pursuant to the Unlawful Internet Gambling
Enforcement Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-347), and provide a structure
for regulation of gambling establishments and tribal governments
that offer poker on the Internet. In preparing the study and
suggested guidelines and structure, the commission and the bureau
shall include safeguards to address the issue of underage gambling,
compulsive gambling, and effective law enforcement oversight of the
operation of Internet poker.  
   The Legislative Analyst shall analyze the proposed guidelines and
structure developed in the study by the commission and the bureau and
assess the potential volume of business and future revenues to the
State of California from gambling establishments and tribal
governments that might offer Internet poker. 
   SEC. 2.    The enactment of this act does not
authorize the play of Internet poker. In enacting this act, it is
merely the intent of the Legislature to have the appropriate state
agencies develop a suggested structure, potential regulatory
guidelines, and estimate on the amount of revenues to the State of
California that may be generated by the play of Internet poker for
possible consideration in the future.  All matter omitted in
this version of the bill appears in the bill as amended in Senate,
June 18, 2008 (JR11)