BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 903
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB
903 (Cristina Garcia)
As Amended April 23, 2015
Majority vote
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|Committee |Votes |Ayes |Noes |
| | | | |
| | | | |
|----------------+------+---------------------+--------------------|
|Governmental |18-0 |Gray, Linder, | |
|Organization | |Achadjian, Alejo, | |
| | |Bigelow, Cooley, | |
| | |Cooper, Daly, | |
| | |Eduardo Garcia, | |
| | |Gipson, Roger | |
| | |Hernández, | |
| | |Jones-Sawyer, | |
| | |Levine, Mayes, | |
| | |Perea, Salas, | |
| | |Waldron, Wilk | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
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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.
AB 903
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EXISTING LAW:
1)California Constitution Article IV, Section 19(e) 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 (Act), provides for the
licensure of certain individuals and gambling establishments
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 for the purpose of
entertainment or recreation; and
AB 903
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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: Unknown. This bill is keyed non-fiscal by the
Legislative Counsel.
COMMENTS:
The 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 (Lockyer),
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 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.
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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."
Analysis Prepared by:
Eric Johnson / G.O. / (916) 319-2531 FN: 0000333