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.

 Alternate casino location proposed
5/23/2008, Fresno Bee
WASHINGTON -- A top federal official is having second thoughts about plans for a large casino along Highway 99 near Madera and now wants to study an alternate site in North Fork -- which could delay the project by months, supporters say. Under orders from Washington, the Bureau of Indian Affairs' regional office in Sacramento has reluctantly agreed to study a 135-acre site known as the Old Mill in the foothills community. That's miles away from where the Mono Indians of the North Fork Rancheria want to build their Las Vegas-style casino.

North Fork- Please amend the DEIS North Fork - Carl Artman, Asst. Sec. Indian Affair - Read the Memo
 

Senate approves casino measure opposed in S.D.
5/23/2008, San Diego Union Tribune
SACRAMENTO - A bipartisan measure that authorizes a large group of California Indian tribes to operate up to 2,000 slot machines each sailed out of the state Senate yesterday despite late opposition from San Diego County. The legislation would redefine terms of 61 compacts negotiated in 1999 to grant each of the tribes up to 2,000 slot machines. That includes local tribes such as Rincon, San Pasqual and Jamul, which are itching to expand or build new casinos.

 State Senate passes bill to add Indian slot machines5/23/2008, Sacramento Bee
The California Senate on Thursday approved legislation that would allow the 61 tribes that signed the landmark 1999 gambling agreement with the state to have up to 2,000 slot machines each. Sen. Jim Battin, R-Palm Desert, called his Senate Bill 1201 a "basic matter of fairness," saying the state has failed to hold up its end of the bargain by restricting the number of slots the tribes can operate. But opponents of the bill - which was approved on a 24-7 vote and will now be considered by the Assembly - said signers of the 1999 compacts knew they placed statewide limits on machines. 
 
 New details uncovered in Golden West Casino Robbery5/23/2008, eyeoutforyou.com
We're learning more about the investigation that led to the arrest of five men accused of robbing the Golden West Casino. According to court documents the Golden West was not the first casino they robbed . The Kern County Gang Suppression Unit and Homicide Divisions have been following this case for months. While sifting through hundreds of pages of Sheriff's records, Eyewitness News found new information from past casino robberies and statements from a girlfriend turned informant.


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Upcoming Hearings

Comments Due: Off Reservation  228.04 acre trust acquisition and construction of casino project to be located within the City of Plymouth in Amador County, California.Mail comments to Amy Dutschke, acting Regional Director, Pacific Regional Office, BIA, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, CA. 92825. Written comments will be accepted through July 2, 2008,
 

Upcoming Conference

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

 
NCLGS - National Council of Legislators from Gaming States
Summer Meeting - June 13 -15, 2008 Napa Valley Marriott Hotel and Spa Napa, California. www.nclgs.org  sign up online.
Presentations will include: bingo and charitable gaming, lottery, off reservation gaming 
 

22nd National Conference on Problem Gambling.   June 26-28, 2008, Long Beach, California.  Register online:www.ncpgambling.org/conference

 
INDIAN COUNTRY'S WINNING HAND, October 16-17, 2008, Radisson Fort McDowell Resort & Casino Scottsdale/Fountian Hills, Arizona. Register online: www.law.asu.edu/ilp
 
 

LINKS and Legislation

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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 1924 - Assembly Member Jeffries Changes the amount of charitable BINGO  funds that may be used for overhead and other operational expenses. Bill has been pulled.

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.

SB 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. Veto Bait.
SB 1328 - Sen.  Cedillo - deletes the $250 limitation on bingo game payouts, thereby allows for an award of any denomination. BILL HAS BEEN PULLED
SB - 1570 - Sen. Vincent - Requires the Governor to use best efforts to ensure 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 -Game of Bingo to be played by machine with electronic cards.  Slot machines?    BILL HAS BEEN PULLED                                                                                             SB 1679 - Sen. Florez - Lottery Reform Bill:  requiresthat 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 - Prohibits the Governor from negotiating or concluding a gaming compact with a tribe that does not have land held in trust on which the gaming is to occur and that is not federally recognized. Bill passes the Senate.
SCA 20 -Sen.  Vincent - Constitutional Amendment authorizes Roulette and Craps on California Indian lands for compact tribes.

 

Federal Legislation to Watch 

H. R. 2963 - Congressman Issa Transfers without regulatory environmental process 1,178 ac. in Riverside and San Diego Counties to the Pechanga Band.  Why?
H.R. 3490 - Congressman Radanovich
Declares that specificed federal lands are to be held in trust by the US for the benefit of the Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuik Indians  for non gaming purposes.
H.R. 5608 Congressman Rahall - mandates that adminstration directly consults with tribes on policies that directly affect their lives.
H. R. 5680 Congressman Grijalva - A bill to extend leases for Morongo and transfer money to CRIT.
S. 2676 - Senator Vitter - Common Sense Indian Gambling Reform Act of 2008. To make technical corrections to IGRA. Consultation with local government.
 

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