Governor Signs Sen. Dodd’s Tribal Compacts Bill

SACRAMENTO – Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, today announced Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed his measures to ratify key intergovernmental agreements between the state and Native American tribes for the purposes of gaming.

“These compacts help enhance economic stability and self-sufficiency among California’s first people while providing revenue and good-paying jobs for thousands of others across our state,” Sen. Dodd said.  “It’s a win for everyone and I thank Gov. Newsom for his support.”

The federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 provides for the negotiation and execution of tribal-state gaming compacts for authorizing certain types of gaming on Indian lands. The California Constitution authorizes the governor to negotiate and conclude those compacts, subject to ratification by the Legislature. The agreements would take effect immediately.

These compacts will provide tens of millions of dollars in revenue to local communities, funding wildfire prevention efforts and assisting nongaming tribes with critical services, from healthcare and education to infrastructure and preservation of tribal lands.

Senate Bill 931 was approved by the Assembly and Senate before the governor signed it. It applies to the following tribes:

• The Campo Band of Diegueno Mission Indians of the Campo Indian Reservation
• The La Posta Band of Diegueno Mission Indians of the La Posta Indian Reservation
• The Timbisha Shoshone Tribe
• The Elem Indian Colony of Pomo Indians of the Sulphur Bank Rancheria

Also, the bill amends compacts with the following tribes:

• Augustine Band of Cahuilla Indians
• The Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians
• The Cher-Ae Heights Indian Community of the Trinidad Rancheria

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Senator Bill Dodd represents the 3rd Senate District, which includes all or portions of Napa, Yolo, Sonoma, Solano, Sacramento and Contra Costa counties. More information on Senator Bill Dodd can be found at www.senate.ca.gov/dodd.