Most agreements between the state and Indian tribes will expire in 2020. Discussions already are beginning on new ones.
Most of the agreements that California Indian tribes have with the state to outline rules on operating casinos don’t expire until 2020, but discussions on their renewal already are beginning.googleoff: allgoogleon: all
The compacts determine how many slot machines casinos can install, the regulations tribes must follow and other provisions that affect how much money tribes make from gambling and how much their casinos can expand.googleoff: allgoogleon: all
In the past several months, preliminary talks have been held between a number of tribes and Gov. Jerry Brown’s representatives, focusing primarily on setting up the parameters for further discussions, said Daniel Tucker, chairman of the California Nations Indian Gaming Association.googleoff: allgoogleon: all
The several dozen tribes with 1999 compacts set to expire in 2020 include Inland tribes such as the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians and the Twenty Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians.googleoff: allgoogleon: all
Evan Westrup, a spokesman for Brown, declined to say what the governor is hoping to see in new compacts.googleoff: allgoogleon: all
“We do not discuss negotiations,” he said. But, Westrup added, “We are certainly aware of concerns regarding the expiration of the 1999 Tribal State Gaming compacts.”googleoff: allgoogleon: all
Four of the biggest Inland gaming tribes, along with a San Diego County tribe, negotiated revised compacts with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2006. Those agreements don’t expire until 2030. Tribes with the newer compacts include the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians and the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians.googleoff: allgoogleon: all
Even though gaming agreements with most tribes don’t expire for more than five years, Tucker said tribes should try to forge new agreements before Brown’s term expires in early 2019.googleoff: allgoogleon: all
“Gov. Brown supports what we do and is open-minded,” Tucker said. “He’ll listen to us. We don’t know who will be there in the future.”googleoff: allgoogleon: all
Even so, he said, “We don’t want to rush through anything. We want to make sure we’re protected and the state’s protected.”googleoff: allgoogleon: all
Tucker said tribes need to negotiate as a unified coalition to get the best terms from the state.googleoff: allgoogleon: all
“Our strength is still in our numbers,” he said.googleoff: allgoogleon: all
Tucker said a number of tribes are unhappy with a recent agreement the governor’s office signed with the Jackson Rancheria of Miwuk Indians in Northern California. The pact added too many new rules and illustrated the risks of going it alone in negotiations with the state, Tucker said. The agreement still must gain federal approval to go into effect.googleoff: allgoogleon: all
Jackson made too many concessions, said George Forman, a lawyer for the Morongo Band of Mission Indians.googleoff: allgoogleon: all
For example, the tribe agreed to a number of new regulations that he said are unnecessary, such as strengthening already-strict building-code standards, and adding record-retention and auditing requirements. The additional “red tape” will hurt tribal revenues, Forman said. The tribe also agreed to more restrictions on opening casinos.googleoff: allgoogleon: all
Jackson tribal officials did not return calls for comment.googleoff: allgoogleon: all
Forman said there’s no need for the state to try to wrangle more concessions from the tribes.googleoff: allgoogleon: all
“You have compacts that worked extremely well, both for the state and for the tribes,” he said.googleoff: allgoogleon: all
But, Forman said, “there’s no downside in having a conversation to see what he’s (Brown) willing to do, what he’d accept, and what the tribes are willing to accept. There’s no downside in governments talking to each other.”