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.

Artman takes stab at streamlining recognition process
5/27/2008, indianz.com
In one of his final actions as head of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, former assistant secretary Carl Artman approved changes to the controversial federal recognition process. But rather than consult tribes or put the issue up for public comment, Artman described the changes as "internal" guidance. According to a notice published in the Federal Register last Friday, the changes will speed up the slow-moving recognition process. Some petitioning groups have waited nearly 30 years for an answer on their federal status. "This guidance and direction does not change the acknowledgment regulations, but will assist in making the process more streamlined and efficient, and improve the timeliness and transparency of the process," Artman stated in the notice.

Juaneno Band of Mission Indians- Extension Letter - Federal Recognition
 Carl Artman -Assistant Secretary- Indian Affairs    Letter allows for an additional 90 days.  Juaneno are located in San Juan Capistrano, Orange County California.
Governor getting impatient - Lottery5/28/2008, San Jose Mercury News
SACRAMENTO - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Tuesday dismissed criticism of his proposal to expand the state lottery in order to close a $17 billion budget gap and expressed frustration that the state's cash crunch is stalling his ambitious policy plans. Some critics have suggested that the state would be counting on the working poor to waste their money on lottery tickets to bail out the state. For example, State Board of Equalization member Michelle Steel, a Republican, said that while she does not doubt that people have the right to gamble, "Mostly poor people are the ones (playing) the lottery, and they should use that money to support their family, for milk and groceries." Schwarzenegger showed little sympathy for such concerns.


Calling dibs on groundwater5/27/2008, The Press-Enterprise
On the edge of a dirt road, Anthony Madrigal Jr. peers over the same sage-covered, boulder-strewn land that his Cahuilla ancestors have lived on for thousands of years. But it's not the tribal land that's got residents of Southwestern Riverside County so concerned as much as the water beneath it -- and who will get the right to use it.

THEY HAVE YOUR NUMBER-NOT YOUR GRANDMA'S GAME
5/27/2008, Las Vegas Review-Journal
During the '60s, when Esteen and his family would visit Las Vegas, Esteen noticed that the only member of the family who'd return home to California with money was his bingo-playing grandmother. "We'd be broke," he recalls with a laugh. "She'd have to loan us all money to eat with on the way back."

Plymouth may talk to tribe5/27/2008, Ledger Dispatch
As time grows short for commenting on the Ione Band of Miwok Indians' draft environmental impact statement, pressure has been mounting on the Plymouth City Council to enter into negotiations with the Miwoks. On Thursday, council members agreed to form an ad hoc committee to discuss the tribe's controversial gaming proposal, but it would be a committee with a different goal than outlined in the agenda's language. 
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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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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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