BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
Senator Christine Kehoe, Chair
585 (Leno)
Hearing Date: 05/28/2009 Amended: As introduced
Consultant: Jacqueline Wong-HernandezPolicy Vote: Public Safety
4-2
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BILL SUMMARY: SB 585 would prohibit an officer, employee,
operator, or any lessee of the state agency 1-A District
Agricultural Association, also known as the Cow Palace, from
contracting for, authorizing, or allowing the sale of any
firearm or ammunition on the property or in the buildings of the
Cow Palace property in San Mateo County and the City and County
of San Francisco or any successor or additional property owned,
leased, or otherwise occupied or operated by the district. A
violation of this provision would be a misdemeanor.
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Fiscal Impact (in thousands)
Major Provisions 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 Fund
Gun show revenue loss $0 $0
$0 Special*
*A-1 District Agricultural Association Operating Fund
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STAFF COMMENTS: SUSPENSE FILE. AS PROPOSED TO BE AMENDED
This bill intends to ban gun shows from being held at the Cow
Palace, which is a state-owned facility. Representatives of the
Cow Palace report that in 2008, the facility was used for 5 gun
shows, and that they anticipate holding 5 gun shows per year for
at least the next three years. Gun show revenues are generated
by rental fees, parking, and food concessions, and vary based
upon attendance. Actual revenues from the 5 gun shows in 2008
totaled approximately $170,000.
If gun shows were banned, the facility could still be rented for
other purposes, but representatives of the Cow Palace indicate
that there is no guarantee that the dates could be re-rented.
They note that dates in 2009 are still available for facility
use, even while accommodating the 5 planned gun shows.
The Cow Palace is largely responsible for generating its own
operating revenue, and in 2009 the projected revenue is
approximately $4,000,000. The state Fairs and Expositions
special fund currently allocates $175,000 to the Cow Palace
annually. This allocation, however, will instead be made from
the General Fund beginning in 2009-10. The loss of revenue would
directly impact the operations of the Cow Palace.
AS PROPOSED TO BE AMENDED: This bill would phase out gun shows
over the next few years by implementing the following
regulations:
A) Prohibit any increase in the number of gun shows than
currently take place at the Cow Palace each year.
Page 2
SB 585 (Leno)
B) Require the Cow Palace to decrease the total number of
gun shows each year when a show date can be replaced by a
non gun-related event.
C) Prohibit the Cow Palace from adding additional gun shows
once they have been eliminated.
The Cow Palace currently has 5 gun shows booked annually in
2009, 2010, and 2011. This amendment would not result in a
direct revenue loss during those years, but could result in the
loss of future potential revenue to the extent that it could
have accommodated both the gun and other shows instead of
replacing the gun shows with non gun-related shows.