BILL NUMBER: AB 1437INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Gray FEBRUARY 27, 2015 An act to amend Section 19954 of the Business and Professions Code, relating to gaming, and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 1437, as introduced, Gray. Gambling addiction. Existing law, the Gambling Control Act, provides for the licensure and regulation of various legalized gambling activities and establishments by the California Gambling Control Commission and the investigation and enforcement of those activities and establishments by the Department of Justice. Existing law establishes the Gambling Control Fund within the State Treasury for the receipt and deposit of fees and revenue collected pursuant to the act. Under the act, specified licensing fees are required to be paid for the issuance or renewal of a state gambling license, as specified. Existing law requires each licensee to pay an additional $100 for each table for which it is licensed to the State Department of Public Health for deposit in the Gambling Addiction Program Fund, and requires these funds to be available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to community-based organizations that directly provide aid and assistance to those persons with a gambling addiction problem. This bill would instead require each licensee to pay an additional $150 for each table for which it is licensed to the State Department of Public Health for deposit in the Gambling Addiction Program Fund. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute. Vote: 2/3. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 19954 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read: 19954. In addition to those fees required pursuant to Section 19951, each licensee shall pay an additional one hundred fifty dollars($100)($150) for each table for which it is licensed to the State Department of Public Health for deposit in the Gambling Addiction Program Fund, which is hereby established to benefit those who have a gambling addiction problem. These funds shall be made available, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to community-based organizations that directly provide aid and assistance to those persons with a gambling addiction problem. SEC. 2. This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the meaning of Article IV of the Constitution and shall go into immediate effect. The facts constituting the necessity are: In order to protect, at the earliest possible time, the interests of Californians who have, or whose lives are affected by, a gambling addiction problem, it is necessary that this act take effect immediately.