Bill Text: CA AB2641 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Gambling: City of Ventura.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2016-11-30 - From committee without further action. [AB2641 Detail]

Download: California-2015-AB2641-Introduced.html
BILL NUMBER: AB 2641	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Williams

                        FEBRUARY 19, 2016

   An act to add Section 19967 to the Business and Professions Code,
relating to gambling.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2641, as introduced, Williams. Gambling: City of Ventura.
   Existing law, the Gambling Control Act, provides for the licensure
and regulation of various legalized gambling activities and
establishments by the California Gambling Control Commission and the
investigation and enforcement of those activities and establishments
by the Department of Justice.
   Under the Gambling Control Act, a city, county, or city and
county, may authorize controlled gambling consistent with state law,
as provided. However, until January 1, 2020, existing law prohibits
the governing body and the electors of a city, county, or city and
county from authorizing or expanding any legal gaming beyond that
permitted on January 1, 1996. Additionally, until January 1, 2020,
existing law prohibits the commission from issuing a gambling license
for a gambling establishment that was not licensed to operate on
December 31, 1999, except as specified. Existing law defines
"expansion of gambling" for these purposes as, when compared to
gambling authorized on January 1, 1996, or under an ordinance adopted
pursuant to specified provisions of law, whichever is the lesser
number, a change that results in, among other things, an increase of
25% or more in the hours of operation of a gambling establishment in
the city, county, or city and county.
   This bill would, notwithstanding any other law, including, but not
limited to the moratorium described above, authorize the City of
Ventura to determine the hours of operation of any gambling
establishment located in the City of Ventura that was operating prior
to January 1, 2016. The bill would specify that any additional hours
of operation authorized by the City of Ventura that are in addition
to those hours that a gambling establishment operated prior to
January 1, 2016, shall not constitute an expansion of gambling for
the purposes described above.
   This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to
the necessity of a special statute for the City of Ventura.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 19967 is added to the Business and Professions
Code, to read:
   19967.  Notwithstanding any other law, including, but not limited
to, paragraph (5) of subdivision (b) of Section 19961, the City of
Ventura may determine the hours of operation of any gambling
establishment located in the City of Ventura that was operating prior
to January 1, 2016. Any additional hours of operation authorized by
the City of Ventura that are in addition to those hours that a
gambling establishment operated prior to January 1, 2016, shall not
constitute an expansion of gambling for purposes of this article.
  SEC. 2.  The Legislature finds and declares that a special law is
necessary and that a general law cannot be made applicable within the
meaning of Section 16 of Article IV of the California Constitution
because of the recent economic challenges, revenue shortfalls, and
increasing costs and mandates, that have left the City of Ventura
falling short of its ability to meet community expectations for basic
local government services and to adequately invest in and maintain
the city's aging critical public infrastructure. Adequately providing
for public safety, police and fire response times, clean and
sufficient supplies of water, and senior and at-risk programs, among
others, are critical to the short-and long-term health of the local
community. Providing for the day-to-day maintenance of streets and
roads, storm water drains, sidewalks, trees, and the city's coastline
are critical to ensuring the stability and safety of the community
into the future. In efforts to meet these demands, the city is
continually seeking responsible and practical revenue sources.
Currently, the revenue generated by the existing gambling
establishment provides a critical and stable revenue source for the
city's general fund that is relied upon to provide for the many
important services the city provides and the community expects. The
ability to expand operating hours of the operation will have no
negative impact to the community and will generate additional revenue
to assist the city in meetings these needs. It will also ensure the
continued vitality and stability of the gambling establishment,
ensuring a continued stable revenue source to the benefit of the
general public and the community.   
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