BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 1039
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 1039 (Hall)
As Introduced February 22, 2013
Majority vote
GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION 17-0 APPROPRIATIONS 17-0
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|Ayes:|Hall, Nestande, Bigelow, |Ayes:|Gatto, Harkey, Bigelow, |
| |Chesbro, Cooley, Gray, | |Bocanegra, Bradford, Ian |
| |Hagman, | |Calderon, Campos, |
| |Roger Hern�ndez, Jones, | |Donnelly, Eggman, Gomez, |
| |Jones-Sawyer, Levine, | |Hall, Ammiano, Linder, |
| |Medina, Perea, V. Manuel | |Pan, Quirk, Wagner, Weber |
| |P�rez, Salas, Torres, | | |
| |Waldron | | |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Allows a city, county, or city and county to amend its
local ordinance to increase the number of gambling tables by
two, above the number of tables authorized by local ordinance in
effect on January 1, 2013. Specifically, this bill specifies
that an amendment authorized by this measure may only occur one
time.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Provides for the licensure and regulation of various legalized
gambling activities and establishments by the California
Gambling Control Commission and the enforcement of those
activities by the Department of Justice (DOJ).
2)Allows a city, county, or city and county to authorize
controlled gambling, consistent with state law, if a majority
of voters affirmatively approve an ordinance so permitting, as
specified.
3)Authorizes a city, county, or city and county to amend the
ordinance to increase by two the number of gambling tables
that may be operated in a gambling establishment in a city,
county, or city and county, above the number of tables
authorized in the ordinance in effect on January 1, 2010. The
authority to amend a gaming ordinance may occur only one time.
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4)Requires that any amendment to a local jurisdiction ordinance
relating to gambling establishments or the Gambling Control
Act is required to be submitted to DOJ for review and comment
before the ordinance is adopted by the local jurisdiction.
5)Places a moratorium on the authorization of legal gaming by a
local governing body or local electors and an expansion of
gambling, as defined, until January 1, 2020.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, there are no significant costs associated with this
legislation.
COMMENTS :
Purpose of the bill : This measure is intended to allow cities
and counties that have card clubs to amend their local ordinance
to allow for these clubs to add two more additional tables.
Currently many small to medium sized card clubs find that they
have insufficient space to accommodate their business on
weekends. This measure will allow a city or county to amend the
ordinance to increase the number of card tables in order to
accommodate those who wish to play in their card clubs.
Arguments in support : Supporters argue that at this time, many
small to medium sized card clubs are unable to accommodate
players who wish to play in their club on Friday and Saturday
nights. Individuals often come to a card club on Friday or
Saturday, and wait an hour or more for an opportunity to sit
down and play.
Many of these people become discouraged and leave. This measure
would allow these clubs to expand the number of tables to
accommodate the business which they already have, but which they
are unable to serve. Furthermore, the added tables will create
employment opportunities in California for those who will be
providing services. State and local governments will also
benefit by additional fees paid by the cardrooms.
Arguments in opposition : According to the California Coalition
Against Gambling Expansion (CCAGE), the past few legislative
sessions have seen a long laundry of gambling expansion
legislation of every conceivable form, from a slew of bills to
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lift specific cardroom limits, to authorizing Off-Track
Bettering parlors for horseracing, to permit call-in bingo
games, to allow our Lottery to go national, be privatized and
remove many of the promised restrictions made to voters, to
expand the number of tribal slot machines, to authorize online
poker, and the list goes on and on.
CCAGE believes that before policymakers consider authoring or
supporting more bills to expand gambling activities, they ought
to consider the social, economic, and moral impact that more
legalized gambling will have on our State and its citizenry.
Analysis Prepared by : Felipe Lopez / G. O. / (916) 319-2531
FN: 0000528