Tribal-state gaming compacts.

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 ratifies a number of tribal-state gaming compacts between the State of California and specified Indian tribes, including the tribal-state gaming compact entered into between the State of California and the Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians, executed on August 23, 2004. This bill would ratify the amendment to the tribal-state gaming compact entered into between the State of California and the Coyote Valley Band of Pomo Indians, executed on July 25, 2012. Existing law, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) , requires a lead agency to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify 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. Existing law provides that, in deference to tribal sovereignty, certain actions shall not be deemed projects for purposes of CEQA, including the execution of an amendment of specified ratified tribal-state gaming compacts. This bill would similarly provide that, in deference to tribal sovereignty, certain actions in connection with the amended tribal-state gaming compact ratified by this bill shall not be deemed projects for purposes of CEQA. By imposing additional duties on a lead agency with regard to the implementation of CEQA requirements, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.