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California Gambling Commission Changes Measure

SACRAMENTO, California – As reported by the San Diego Union-Tribune: "In response to criticism from several quarters, California's gambling commission has agreed to narrow a measure that would allow it to conduct more of its business behind closed doors.

"With the revisions, the commission-sponsored bill breezed through its first Assembly committee yesterday on a unanimous, bipartisan vote.

"The measure, SB 919 by Sen. Dave Cox, R-Fair Oaks, has passed the Senate and is expected to be signed into law if it reaches the governor's desk.

"…The commission has argued in recent months that it cannot legally discuss certain matters in either public or closed session. State law and Indian gambling agreements grant strict confidentiality to much of the information it receives about the state's 55 Indian casinos and more than 100 card clubs. At the same time, California's open meetings law forbids discussion of most of that information in closed sessions.

"The commission, however, has operated for nearly five years under those constraints.

"The amendments restrict the commission to 'discussing' in closed session 'matters involving trade secrets, nonpublic financial data, confidential or proprietary information and other data and information,' the disclosure of which is prohibited by law or a tribal gaming compact. The bill originally allowed the commission to "consider" those items in private.

"The amendments also limit private discussions to confidential material that must be identified, at least in general terms, on an agenda. Any resulting actions may be taken only in public…"

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