BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 903
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Date of Hearing: May 6, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION
Adam Gray, Chair
AB 903
(Cristina Garcia) - As April 23, 2015
SUBJECT: Gambling Control Act
SUMMARY: Would permit a person between 18 and 21 years of age
to work in a gambling establishment in a classification that
entails providing services on and off the gaming floor that are
not involved in play of any controlled game, as specified.
EXISTING LAW:
1) Article IV, section 19, subdivision (e) of the California
Constitution prohibits casinos of the type currently operating
in Nevada and New Jersey. Those casinos commonly offer their
patrons a broad spectrum of gaming and house-banked games.
2) Existing law, the Gambling Control Act, provides for the
licensure of certain individuals and gambling establishments
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involved in various gambling activities, and for the regulation
of those activities, by the California Gambling Control
Commission (CGCC). Existing law provides for the enforcement
of those activities by the Department of Justice (DOJ).
3) Prohibits a person under 21 years of age from being eligible
for a work permit in a gambling establishment.
4) Prohibits any person under the age of 21 from entering the
premises of a licensed gambling establishment with the following
exceptions:
a) A dining area that is physically separated from any
gambling area;
b) Restrooms;
c) A supervised room that is physically separated from any
gambling area and that is used
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for the purpose of entertainment or recreation; and
d) A designated pathway through the gambling area, which
requires any person under the
age of 21 to be accompanied by a person over the age of
21
FISCAL EFFECT: This bill is keyed non-fiscal by Legislative
Counsel.
COMMENTS:
The Gambling Control Act prohibits a person under 21 years of
age from being eligible for a work permit in a gambling
establishment. The Act also prohibits a person under 21 years
of age from entering the premises of a licensed gambling
establishment, under defined conditions. Further, the Act
prohibits any person under 21 years of age from loitering in a
gaming area.
The prohibition on persons under 21 years of age from being
eligible for a work permit was contained in SB 8 (Chapter 867,
Statutes of 1997), the bill that enacted the Gambling Control
Act. The bill also included a restriction that prohibited any
person under 21 years of age from entering upon the premises of
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a licensed gambling establishment, except for limited areas, and
required a separate entrance to those areas.
This bill permits a person between 18 and 21 years of age to be
employed to work in a gambling establishment, provided that they
do not work as dealers, floor men, or any other employment
classification that exclusively involves working on the floor of
the gambling establishment. A person between 18 and 21 years of
age may be employed in job classifications that entail providing
services on and off the gaming floor that are not involved in
play of any controlled game.
In support : According to supporters, "under existing law a card
club is not allowed to employ anyone under the age of 21. This
is true, not only for individuals who work exclusively on the
gambling floor, but also for individuals who work as cooks,
waiters, bus boys, house keepers, and other ancillary services
not directly related to the dealing of cards. This bill would
thus create the opportunity for individuals between the ages of
18 and 21 to work in certain employment classifications that do
not entail providing services exclusively on the gambling
floor."
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
AB 903
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Support
Bicycle Hotel & Casino
City of Commerce
Commerce Casino
Hawaiian Gardens Casino
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by:Eric Johnson / G.O. / (916) 319-2531
AB 903
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