Asm. Wesley Chesbro

Existing federal law, the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, 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 ratified the tribal-state gaming compact entered into between the State of California and the Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake, executed on September 2, 2009, but that compact was later rejected by the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs. 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 repeal the ratification of the tribal-state gaming compact entered into between the State of California and the Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake, executed on September 2, 2009, and would ratify a new tribal-state gaming compact entered into between the State of California and the Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake, executed on March 17, 2011. The bill would provide that, in deference to tribal sovereignty, certain actions may not be deemed projects for purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act. By imposing additional duties on a lead agency with regard to the implementation of CEQA requirements, this bill would increase the service provided by a local agency, thereby creating 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.

This measure would declare the week of June 6 through June 12, 2011, to be Dropout Recovery Week and would state the Legislature's intent to encourage the support of dropout recovery high schools with creative teaching strategies, alternative assessments, and adequate resources.

This measure would recognize that the California Prayer Breakfast is commemorating and celebrating its 50th year of existence at the State Capitol in 2011 with the California Prayer Breakfast being held on May 19, 2011, at the Sheraton Grand Sacramento Hotel.

This measure would declare March 2011 to be California School Bullying Prevention Awareness Month, and urge that the issue of bullying, and methods of preventing it, be discussed with appropriate activities in California schools during this time.

This measure would acknowledge the 50th anniversary of service by African American justices in the California courts, and would encourage all Californians to share in statewide and local celebrations throughout the year to recognize the contributions and diversity of these and other judicial trailblazers. The bill would also call upon the leadership of the judicial, legislative, and executive branches of government, and the greater legal, educational, and justice communities, to sponsor and participate in educational and outreach activities that highlight the work of the justices of the California Courts of Appeal and the California Supreme Court.

This measure would proclaim May 1 through May 8, 2011, as California Holocaust Memorial Week and would urge Californians to observe these days of remembrance for the victims of the Holocaust in an appropriate manner.

This measure would recognize April 28, 2011, as Workers Memorial Day.

This measure would designate March 2011 as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.