BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



                                                                       AB 701


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          ASSEMBLY THIRD READING


          AB  
          701 (Cristina Garcia)


          As Introduced  February 25, 2015


          Majority vote


           -------------------------------------------------------------------- 
          |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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          |                |      |                       |                    |
          |                |      |                       |                    |
           -------------------------------------------------------------------- 


          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