Bill > SB549

This bill, known as the Tribal Nations Access to Justice Act, authorizes California Indian tribes that have a current ratified tribal-state gaming compact or are under secretarial procedures to bring a declaratory and injunctive relief action solely against licensed California card clubs and third-party proposition player services providers. The purpose is to determine whether certain controlled games operated by the card clubs and banked by third-party providers constitute illegal banking card games or legal controlled games, thereby resolving a long-standing dispute between the tribes and card clubs over the legality of these games and their impact on tribal gaming rights under the California Constitution. The bill requires de novo review of such challenges, prohibits claims for monetary damages or attorney's fees, and sets a filing deadline of April 1, 2025. It also clarifies that the state is not liable and that courts cannot issue certain types of preliminary injunctions.

Budget and Finance, Education, Government Affairs, Justice

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB549