BILL NUMBER: AB 475	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 26, 2015

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Bigelow
    (   Principal coauthor:   Senator 
 Berryhill   ) 

                        FEBRUARY 23, 2015

   An act  to add Section 12012.66 to the Government Code, 
relating to  gaming.   tribal gaming  
. 



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 475, as amended, Bigelow. Tribal  gaming. 
 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 compacts, subject to
ratification by the Legislature. Existing law  expressly 
ratifies a number of tribal-state gaming  compacts 
 compacts, and amendments to tribal-state gaming compacts, 
between the State of California and specified Indian tribes. 

   This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact
legislation related to tribal gaming in California.  
   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 Jackson Rancheria Band
of Miwuk Indians, executed on February 1, 2015. The bill would
provide that, in deference to tribal sovereignty, certain actions are
not projects for the purposes of CEQA. 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  no
 yes  . State-mandated local program: no.


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

   SECTION 1.    Section 12012.66 is added to the 
 Government Code  , to read:  
   12012.66.  (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 Jackson Rancheria Band
of Miwuk Indians, executed on February 1, 2015, 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 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 herein, this subdivision does not
exempt a city, county, or city and county, or the Department of
Transportation, from the requirements of the California Environmental
Quality Act.  
  SECTION 1.    It is the intent of the Legislature
to enact legislation related to tribal gaming in California.