BILL NUMBER: SB 941 CHAPTERED 09/25/07 CHAPTER 226 FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE SEPTEMBER 25, 2007 APPROVED BY GOVERNOR SEPTEMBER 25, 2007 PASSED THE SENATE APRIL 19, 2007 PASSED THE ASSEMBLY SEPTEMBER 6, 2007 AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 9, 2007 INTRODUCED BY Senators Padilla and Correa FEBRUARY 23, 2007 An act to add Section 12012.47 to the Government Code, relating to gaming. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 941, Padilla. 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. 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. This bill would ratify an amendment to a tribal-state gaming compact entered into between the State of California and the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, executed on August 28, 2006. The bill would provide that the terms of that amended compact shall apply only to the State of California and the tribe that has signed it, and shall not bind any tribe that is not a signatory to the amended compact. The bill would require that related revenue contributions be deposited into the General Fund, except as specified, and would provide that, in deference to tribal sovereignty, certain actions may not be deemed projects for purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 12012.47 is added to the Government Code, to read: 12012.47. (a) The amendment to the tribal-state gaming compact entered into in accordance with the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 (18 U.S.C. Sec. 1166 to 1168, incl., and 25 U.S.C. Sec. 2701 et seq.) between the State of California and the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, executed on August 28, 2006, is hereby ratified. (b) The terms of the amended compact ratified by this section shall apply only to the State of California and the tribe that has signed it, and shall not bind any tribe that is not a signatory to the amended compact. The Legislature acknowledges the right of federally recognized tribes to exercise their sovereignty to negotiate and enter into compacts with the state that are materially different from the amended compact ratified pursuant to subdivision (a). (c) (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 amended tribal-state gaming compact ratified by this section. (B) The execution of the 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, the amended 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 amended tribal-state gaming compact ratified by this section. (E) The on-reservation impacts of compliance with the terms of the amended 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. (d) Revenue contributions made to the state by tribes pursuant to the amended tribal-state gaming compact ratified by this section shall be deposited in the General Fund, or as otherwise provided in the amended compact.