BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION
Senator Isadore Hall, III
Chair
2015 - 2016 Regular
Bill No: SB 650 Hearing Date: 4/28/2015
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|Author: |Hall |
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|Version: |4/8/2015 |
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|Urgency: |No |Fiscal: |No |
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|Consultant:|Felipe Lopez |
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SUBJECT: California Gambling Control Commission: records
DIGEST: This bill clarifies that the California Gambling
Control Commission (CGCC) shall keep a record pertaining to its
regular and special meetings and a record of all applications
for licenses under the Gambling Control Act open to public
inspection during normal business hours.
ANALYSIS:
Existing law:
1)Establishes, under the Gambling Control Act, the CGCC and
requires five members to be appointed to the CGCC by the
Governor, subject to confirmation by the California State
Senate.
2)Requires the CGCC to keep a record of all proceedings at its
regular and special meetings and requires that these records
be open to public inspection.
3)Requires the Department of Justice (DOJ) to maintain a file of
all applications for licenses under the Gambling Control Act.
The CGCC shall maintain a record of all actions taken with
respect to those applications and make that record open to
public inspection.
This bill clarifies that the CGCC shall make these records open
SB 650 (Hall) Page 2 of ?
to public inspection during normal business hours.
Background
Purpose of the bill: The author argues that the bill simply
aims to clarify when records maintained by the CGGC should be
made open for public inspection. By clarifying that records
should be made open for public inspections during normal
business hours we can ensure that these records are available
for public inspection during the time of day when employees are
expected to be in the office while continuing to provide
transparency and open government.
The Gambling Control Act: The Gambling Control Act, established
in 1998, created a comprehensive scheme for statewide regulation
of legal gambling under a bifurcated system of administration
involving the Bureau of Gambling Control (Bureau) within the
Attorney General's Office and the five member CGCC by the
Governor. The CGCC is authorized to establish minimum
regulatory standards for the gambling industry and to ensure
that the state gambling licenses are not issued to or held by
unsuitable or unqualified individuals.
The Bureau monitors the conduct of gaming operations to ensure
compliance with state gambling laws and conducts extensive
background investigations of applicants seeking a state gambling
license. The Bureau also conducts background checks for all key
employees and state gambling license and vendor applications.
The Bureau inspects premises where gambling is conducted,
examines gambling equipment, audits papers, books, and records
of the gambling establishment, investigates suspected violations
of gambling laws, and is ultimately responsible for enforcing
compliance with all state laws pertaining to gambling.
Prior/Related Legislation
SB 399 (Hall), 2015-2016 Legislative Session. The bill requires
that a public record of every vote of the CGCC be posted on the
CGCC's Internet Web site no later than 48 hours after the vote
is taken. (Pending in Senate Governmental Organization
Committee)
AB 2720 (Ting), Chapter 510, Statutes of 2014. The bill
required a state body to publicly report any action taken and
SB 650 (Hall) Page 3 of ?
the vote or abstention on that action of each member present for
the action.
SB 95 (Ayala), Chapter 949, Statutes of 1997. The bill made
various changes to the Bagley-Keene Act by expanding the notice,
disclosure and reporting requirements for open and closed
meetings of state bodies.
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal
Com.: No Local: No
SUPPORT:
None received
OPPOSITION:
None received