BILL NUMBER: AB 1540	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	CHAPTER  531
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  OCTOBER 6, 2015
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  OCTOBER 6, 2015
	PASSED THE SENATE  SEPTEMBER 2, 2015
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  SEPTEMBER 3, 2015
	AMENDED IN SENATE  AUGUST 31, 2015

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Gray

                        MARCH 26, 2015

   An act to add Section 12012.67 to the Government Code, relating to
tribal gaming, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect
immediately.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1540, Gray. Tribal gaming: compact ratification.
   Existing federal law, the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988,
provides for the negotiation and execution of tribal-state gaming
compacts for the purpose of authorizing certain types of gaming on
Indian lands within a state. The California Constitution authorizes
the Governor to negotiate and conclude compacts, subject to
ratification by the Legislature.
   Existing law expressly ratifies a number of tribal-state gaming
compacts, and amendments to tribal-state gaming compacts, between the
State of California and specified Indian tribes. The California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a lead agency to prepare,
or cause to be prepared, and certify the completion of, an
environmental impact report on a project, as defined, that it
proposes to carry out or approve that may have a significant effect
on the environment, as defined, or to adopt a negative declaration if
it finds that the project will not have that effect.
   This bill would ratify the tribal-state gaming compact entered
into between the State of California and the Santa Ynez Band of
Mission Indians, executed on August 26, 2015. The bill would provide
that, in deference to tribal sovereignty, certain actions are not
projects for the purposes of CEQA.
   This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as
an urgency statute.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 12012.67 is added to the Government Code, to
read:
   12012.67.  (a) The tribal-state gaming compact entered into in
accordance with the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 (18
U.S.C. Secs. 1166 to 1168, inclusive, and 25 U.S.C. Sec. 2701 et
seq.) between the State of California and the Santa Ynez Band of
Mission Indians, executed on August 26, 2015, is hereby ratified.
   (b) (1) In deference to tribal sovereignty, none of the following
shall be deemed a project for purposes of the California
Environmental Quality Act (Division 13 (commencing with Section
21000) of the Public Resources Code):
   (A) The execution of an amendment to the tribal-state gaming
compact ratified by this section.
   (B) The execution of the tribal-state gaming compact ratified by
this section.
   (C) The execution of an intergovernmental agreement between a
tribe and a county or city government negotiated pursuant to the
express authority of, or as expressly referenced in, the tribal-state
gaming compact ratified by this section.
   (D) The execution of an intergovernmental agreement between a
tribe and the Department of Transportation negotiated pursuant to the
express authority of, or as expressly referenced in, the
tribal-state gaming compact ratified by this section.
   (E) The on-reservation impacts of compliance with the terms of the
tribal-state gaming compact ratified by this section.
   (F) The sale of compact assets, as defined in subdivision (a) of
Section 63048.6, or the creation of the special purpose trust
established pursuant to Section 63048.65.
   (2) Except as expressly provided herein, this subdivision does not
exempt a city, county, or city and county, or the Department of
Transportation, from the requirements of the California Environmental
Quality Act.
  SEC. 2.  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 enhance the economic development, stability, and
self-sufficiency of the Santa Ynez Band of Mission Indians and to
protect the interests of the tribe and its members, the surrounding
community, and the California public at the earliest possible time,
it is necessary that this act take effect immediately.