BILL NUMBER: SB 278	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 15, 2015

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Hall
   (Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Gray)

                        FEBRUARY 19, 2015

   An act to add Chapter 5.2 (commencing with Section 19990.101) to
Division 8 of the Business and Professions Code, relating to 
gambling.   gambling, and declaring the urgency
thereof, to take effect immediately. 



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 278, as amended, Hall. Gambling: Internet poker.
   Existing law, the Gambling Control Act, provides for the licensure
and regulation of various legalized gambling activities and
establishments by the California Gambling Control Commission and the
investigation and enforcement of those activities and establishments
by the Department of Justice.
   This bill would authorize the operation of an Internet poker Web
site within the borders of the state. The bill would require the
commission, in consultation with the department, to promulgate
regulations for intrastate Internet poker. The bill would require
those regulations to include, but not be limited to, a licensing
process for an individual or entity to become an operator of an
Internet poker Web site and rules for the operation of an Internet
poker Web site. 
   This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as
an urgency statute. 
   Vote:  majority   2/3  . Appropriation:
no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.


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

  SECTION 1.  The Legislature finds and declares both of the
following:
   (a) In October 2006, the United States Congress passed the 
federal  Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006
(UIGEA) (31 U.S.C.  Secs.   Sec.  5361 et
seq.), which generally prohibits the use of banking instruments,
including credit cards, checks, and fund transfers, for interstate
Internet gambling.
   (b) UIGEA essentially prohibits online gambling by United States
citizens, but includes exceptions that permit individual states to
create a regulatory framework to enable intrastate Internet gambling,
if the bets or wagers are made exclusively within a single state
under certain circumstances.
  SEC. 2.  Chapter 5.2 (commencing with Section 19990.101) is added
to Division 8 of the Business and Professions Code, to read:
      CHAPTER 5.2.  AUTHORIZED INTRASTATE INTERNET POKER



      Article 1.  General Provisions


   19990.101.  An Internet poker Web site authorized pursuant to this
chapter may be operated within the borders of the state in
accordance with all applicable laws and regulations, including, but
not limited to, the  federal  Unlawful Internet Gambling
Enforcement Act of 2006 (31 U.S.C.  Secs.   Sec.
 5361 et seq.).

      Article 2.  Definitions


   19990.201.  For purposes of this chapter, the following
definitions apply:
   (a) "Commission" means the California Gambling Control Commission.

   (b) "Department" means the Department of Justice.

      Article 3.  Administration


   19990.301.  The commission, in consultation with the department,
shall promulgate regulations for intrastate Internet poker. These
regulations shall include, but not be limited to, both of the
following:
   (a) A licensing process for an individual or entity to become an
operator of an Internet poker Web site.
   (b) Rules for the operation of an Internet poker Web site.
   SEC. 3.    This act is an urgency statute necessary
for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety
within the meaning of Article IV of the Constitution and shall go
into immediate effect. The facts constituting the necessity are:
 
   In order to, at the earliest possible time, authorize the
operation of Internet poker Web sites in California, create a
licensing process for operators of those Web sites, and establish
rules for the operation of those Web sites, it is necessary that this
act take effect immediately.