Stand Up for California! is a statewide organization with a focus on gambling issues including tribal gaming, card clubs, horse racing, charitable gaming and the state lottery.

Regulatory Oversight of Gaming:

Slot Surveillance


3/22/2008, Press Enterprise - Op-Ed Cheryl Schmit
California is the fastest-growing and will soon be the largest gambling state, but we lack both a coherent gambling policy and adequate regulation. With billions worth of casino gambling expansion recently approved by four state ballot initiatives, now is a good time for a cold hard look at the problems in our state's gambling policy. Gov. Schwarzenegger, the Legislature and our state's courts have acknowledged that California's regulatory scheme needs work. These flaws got drowned out by the hundreds of millions in political expenditures by wealthy gambling tribes and our state's desperate budget deficit. California's current gambling policy appears driven more by the fundraising needs of state elected officials than a sober and coherent program to build sound policy on gambling. The recent gaming compacts are not a modest expansion of gambling voted for in Prop. 1A in 2000.

Oversight of tribal gaming necessary
3/22/2008, Press Enterprise - Op-Ed Chairman Phil Hogen
The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act enacted in October of 1988 is nearly 20 years old. Tribal gaming has become a multibillion-dollar industry. Gambling has only flourished on a large scale where there was a strong regulatory structure and where it enjoyed public confidence. The phenomenal success of Indian gaming in California and elsewhere is a testament to the public's confidence in its regulatory oversight.

New Federal Legislation:
 
Rahall Introduces Bill Upholding Federal Trust Relationship with Indian Country
3/17/2008, Native Times
Working to address one of the top concerns aired by Indian tribes before the House Natural Resources Committee, Chairman Nick J. Rahall (D-WV), introduced legislation Thursday mandating that the Administration consult with tribes on policies that directly affect their lives. "Normally, I would be pleased to offer a bill that strengthens the government-to-government relationship between the United States and Indian country. But today, I am disappointed that such legislation is even necessary," Rahall said.


Unacceptable number of incidents?

Pechanga Closes Nightclubs Indefinitely
3/22/2008, San Diego Business Journal
Pechanga Resort & Casino has shut down its Silk and Eagle's Nest nightclubs for an unspecified period of time, resort management said March 20. The venues are on the Pechanga reservation near Temecula. "Tribal leaders have determined that an unacceptable number of incidents involving alcohol consumption have occurred at Pechanga Resort & Casino," said a statement issued by Amy Minniear, president of Pechanga Development Corp.

Sacred Land:
 
Lake Elsinore reminded of land's long history
3/21/2008, The Press-Enterprise
The Lake Elsinore land beneath local archaeologist Paul Price's feet is steeped in history.Flakes of basalt are ancient artifacts known as "lithic scatter," some of which could have been used as tools by Indians who lived on the land, he said."This piece," Price said, pointing to a sharp-edged rock, "belongs in a museum."

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Upcoming Hearings

Public Meeting: Expansion of facility - Draft Environmental Impact Report will be presented by United Auburn Indian Community.  Tribe is required by law to hold a public hearing on the proposed expansion. 2 p.m. March 26, 2008 at Mc Bean Park Pavillion, 65 McBean Prak Drive, Lincoln, CA. Comment will be recieved through April 10, 2008.

Public Scoping Hearing:Off Reservation Proposal - Manzanita Band in the City of Calexico.  March 27,  BOS Chambers Imperical County, 940 W. Main St., El Centro. 6pm to 9pm. Or mail comments to Amy Dutschke, acting Regional Director, Pacific Regional Office, BIA, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, CA. 92825

Public Scoping Hearing: Off Reservation Proposal - April 9, 2008, 6 p.m., Elks Lodge in Marysville, 920 D. Street.  The hearing is for public input related to the enterpise Rancheria proposed fee to trust land acquistion of 40 acres and the subsequent development of an off reservation casino resort complex in Yuba County.

Upcoming Conference

North American Regulators Association June 10-13, 2008   www.nagra.org  Register on Line.

LINKS and Legislation

 

Stand Up For California - Library

Stand Up For California - Helpful Links

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State Legislation to Watch

AJR 39 -  Assembly Member Huffman

Reaffirmation of the Winneman Wintu.

AB 1314 -Assembly Member Strikland

BINGOAn Act to amend section 326.5 of the California Penal Code.

AB 1328 - Assembly Member Cedillo

 Internet BINGO

AB 1924 - Assembly Member Jeffries

Changes the amount of charitable BINGO  funds that may be used for overhead and other operational expenses.

AB 2026 - Assembly Member  Levine -

The California Gambling Control in conjunction with the Department of Justice, shall perform a study and report its findings to the legislature by June 30, 2009, regarding authorizing interstate Internet Poker.

AB 62 - Sen. Florez - Permits the transfer of funds from the General Fund to the Revenue Sharing Trust Fund for eligible recipient tribes should there be insufficient funds in the Special Distribution Fund.

SB 331 -Sen.  Romero - Imposes a state mandated local program to address tresspassers on tribal lands

SB 996 Sen. Florez - This bill would require each tribal state gaming compact entered into between the State of California and a federally recognized Indian Tribe to be ratified by the Legislature in Separate Statute. 

 SB 1201 - Sen. Battin Increases the aggregate limit of gaming devices licenses available for issuance under the 1999 compacts to 122,000 slot machines without tribal state compact renegotiations.
SB 1328 - Sen.  Cedillo - deletes the $250 limitation on bingo game payouts, thereby allows for an award of any denomination. (currently limit $250.00 per pot)
SB - 1570 - Sen. Vincent - Requires the Governor to use best efforts to enusre that satellite wagering on horese racing is one of the forms of gaming offered at any gambling facility authorized under a compact.  
SB 1626 - Sen. Steinberg - Regulates the game of BINGO.
SB 1679 - Sen. Florez - Lottery Reform Bill:  requires that not less than 87% of revenues be used for prizes and to benefit education, 13% for lottery expenses. Total revenue to education will be decided by the Commission but not less than 1,200,000,000. Requires 1 million to be committed to the Office of Problem and Pathological gambling. Defines, expands and loosens restrictions of lottery game themes.

SB 1695 - Sen. Florez - This bill limits the locations of tribal casinos.  Does it limit the political power of local elected?

SCA 20 -Sen.  Vincent - Constitutional Amendment authorizes Roulette and Craps on California Indian lands for compact tribes.

 

Federal Legislation to Watch 

H.R. 5608 Congressman Rahall - mandates that adminstration directly consults with tribes on policies that directly affect their lives.
 
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Last sessions legislation rumored to have legs.

H. R. 3709To authorize inter-tribal transfers of authority in leases between the Ewiiaapaayp Band of Kumeyaay and the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay, and for other purposes. (Introduced in House October 1, 2007)

S. 1347 - Sentaor Feinstein: A bill to amend the Omnibus Indian Advancement Act to modify the

date as of which certain tribal land of the Lytton Rancheria of California is deemed to be held in trust and to provide for the conduct of certain activities on the land.  Passed the Senate 11-6-07 and sent to the House.

Rule Making

http://thomas.loc.gov/

Guidance on taking off reservation land into trust for gaming purposes
Jan 3, 2008, Carl Artman, Asst. Secretary of the Interior, BIA

 
Proposed Rule - Secretarily Approval of Compacts within 45 Days
Feb. 11, 2008, Asst. Secretary - Carl Artman - Dept. of the Inter