CA AB2794

Reorganizes California's tribal gaming law by repealing fragmented provisions in Sections 12012.25-12012.90 and Chapter 7.5 of the Government Code and consolidating them into a new Title 16.5.

Ratifies 57 tribal-state gaming compacts executed on September 10, 1999, plus additional compacts executed between 1998 and 2008, and establishes procedures for Governor negotiation and legislative ratification of future materially identical or substantially different compacts.

Creates the Indian Gaming Revenue Sharing Trust Fund to distribute payments from tribes to noncompact tribes, with backfill provisions ensuring eligible recipient tribes receive minimum quarterly payments of $275,000 (maximum $1,100,000 annually).

Establishes the Indian Gaming Special Distribution Fund for state revenues from tribal gaming, with priority uses including shortfall payments, problem gambling prevention, regulatory costs, and grants to local government agencies impacted by tribal casinos.

Creates Indian Gaming Local Community Benefit Committees in each county to allocate grants from individual tribal casino accounts based on geographic proximity (nexus test) and other criteria, with funds expiring January 1, 2021 unless extended by statute.