BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 701
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB
701 (Cristina Garcia)
As Introduced February 25, 2015
Majority vote
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|Committee |Votes |Ayes |Noes |
| | | | |
| | | | |
|----------------+------+-----------------------+--------------------|
|Governmental |21-0 |Gray, Linder, | |
|Organization | |Achadjian, Alejo, | |
| | |Bigelow, Campos, | |
| | |Cooley, Cooper, Daly, | |
| | |Cristina Garcia, | |
| | |Eduardo Garcia, | |
| | |Gipson, | |
| | |Roger Hernández, | |
| | |Jones-Sawyer, Levine, | |
| | |Mayes, Perea, Salas, | |
| | |Steinorth, Waldron, | |
| | |Wilk | |
| | | | |
|----------------+------+-----------------------+--------------------|
|Appropriations |16-0 |Gomez, Bigelow, Bonta, | |
| | |Calderon, Chang, Daly, | |
| | |Eggman, Gallagher, | |
| | |Eduardo Garcia, | |
| | |Holden, Jones, Quirk, | |
| | |Rendon, Wagner, Weber, | |
| | |Wood | |
AB 701
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| | | | |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY: Makes modifications to an existing provision of the
Gambling Control Act (Act) pertaining to the Gaming Policy
Advisory Committee (GPAC). Specifically, this bill:
1)Increase the membership of GPAC from 10 to 12 members.
2)Requires GPAC to be composed of five representatives of
controlled gambling licensees, five members of the general
public, and two representatives from the California Department
of Justice's Bureau of Gambling Control (DOJ).
EXISTING LAW:
1)Establishes within the Act a regulatory framework for gaming in
California, creating the California Gambling Control Commission
(CGCC) with the authority to approve, deny, revoke, or suspend
gambling licenses and permits for reasonable cause.
2)Establishes a 10-member GPAC, composed of representatives of
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controlled gambling licensees and members of the general public
in equal numbers.
3)Requires the executive director of the CGCC to convene the GPAC,
from time to time, for the purpose of discussing matters of
controlled gambling regulatory policy and any other relevant
gambling-related issue.
4)Provides that the GPAC may not advise the CGCC on Indian gaming.
FISCAL EFFECT: According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, minor and absorbable costs to CGCC and DOJ.
COMMENTS:
Purpose of the bill: According to the author's office, this
measure is intended to take important steps to encourage state
policies, laws and regulations concerning card clubs that will
support job creation and increase economic activity. In addition,
this bill will reiterate in statute the path of communication for
card club operators and regulators to discuss pertinent issues.
This bill is intended to make the GPAC more relevant to the CGCC,
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gaming industry, and the public at large.
According to the author, this bill will codify the involvement of
the DOJ on GPAC. The input of both DOJ and CGCC has proven to be
very beneficial in determining the scope and authority of GPAC and
in advising on upcoming issues to be considered by the committee.
In addition, by expanding the membership to include two additional
seats, this bill will also allow for greater representation from
the public and law enforcement representatives.
Background:
GPAC Mission Statement: The stated mission statement for GPAC is
to provide advisory recommendations to the CGCC concerning matters
of controlled gaming regulatory policy and other relevant gambling
related issues, with special attention to guaranteeing the
integrity of gambling operations and to deal effectively with
problem gambling.
Current make-up of GPAC: One member is a representative of DOJ,
one member is a representative of the problem gambling field, one
member is a representative of a licensed or registered Third Party
Provider of Proposition Player Services, two members are a
representative of larger (25 tables or more) licensed gambling
establishments, two members are a representative of small (less
than 25 tables) licensed gambling establishments, one member is a
law enforcement officer/investigator from local government where
an approved ordinance allows controlled gaming, one member is a
professional with an accounting background and one member is a
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member of the general public at large.
It should be noted, that the CGCC is responsible for appointing
and constituting GPAC yet, under current law, there is no
requirement that GPAC meet.
Analysis Prepared by:
Eric Johnson / G.O. / (916) 319-2531 FN: 0000323