Tribal legislation: What’s in play for the 2007-08 session

The Legislature will look at a large number of bills dealing with tribes and compacts this year. Here’s a rundown of some of the major bills:

AB 91 by Bonnie Garcia, R-Cathedral City.
Makes tweaks to the Indian Gaming Revenue Sharing Trust Fund, the Indian Gaming Special Distribution Fund and the California Gambling Control Commission.

AB 121 by Bill Maze, R-Visalia.
Clarifies rules around tax codes and enterprise zones, with clauses affecting tribes.

AB 131, Garcia.
Clarifies compact ratification rules as they apply to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

AB 169 by Lloyd Levine, D-Van Nuys.
Gives 16 federally-recognized tribes the right to participate in the Southern California Association of Governments.

AB 230 by Patty Berg, D-Santa Rosa (co-author Senator Pat Wiggins, D-Eureka).
Tribal compact for the Yurok Tribe of the Yurok Reservation.

AB 266 by Charles Calderon, D-City of Industry.
An amendment to the gaming compact of the Morongo Band of Mission Indians.

AB 847, Berg.
Authorize the Yurok Tribal Council to enter into a joint powers agreement with public agencies.

AB 1265 by Paul Cook, R-Yucaipa.
Makes changes to the compact ratification process.

AB 1389 by Alberto Torrico, D-Fremont.
Changes the rules and allocations of the Indian Gaming Special Distribution Fund.

AB 1697 by Laura Richardson, D-Long Beach.
Makes revenue-sharing changes to the state Treasury the Indian Gaming Revenue Sharing Trust Fund and the Indian Gaming Special Distribution Fund.

SB 62 by Dean Florez, D-Bakersfield.
Taps General Fund payments from tribes to make up potential shortfalls Indian Gaming Special Distribution Fund.

SB 106 by Wiggins (co-authored by Berg and Senate Pro Tem Don Perata, D-Oakland).
Would ratify last years compact with the Yurok Tribe of the Yurok Reservation.

SB 157 Roy Ashburn, R-Bakersfield, and Wiggins (Berg).
Would ratify 2005 compacts with the Big Lagoon Rancheria and the Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeno Indians.

SB 174 by Denise Ducheny, D-Chula Vista.
Changes the backfill provisions of the Indian Gaming Revenue Sharing Trust Fund.

SB 175 Ducheny.
Further revenue-sharing provisions to the Indian Gaming Revenue Sharing Trust Fund and the Indian Gaming Special Distribution Fund.

SB 331 by Gloria Romero, D-Los Angeles.
Spot bill expressing intent clarify laws around illegal entry onto private ads.

SB 703 Ducheny.
Imposes new rules on the placement and adoption of children, with clauses affecting tribes.

SB 957 Perata.
Changes to the rules around County Tribal Casino Accounts.

SB 996 Florez.
Would allow gaming tribes to prepay obligations to state General Fund.