Gaming Policy Advisory Committee.

Assembly Member Aguiar-Curry's proposal to restructure California's Gaming Policy Advisory Committee aims to broaden its expertise while establishing more consistent oversight of gambling policy issues. The legislation would expand the committee from 10 to 12 members by adding two specialized positions: one representative from academia with gaming expertise and one from the Bureau of Gambling Control. The existing balance of five controlled gambling licensee representatives and five members of the general public would remain unchanged.

The bill would also formalize the committee's meeting requirements, replacing the current discretionary schedule with mandatory biannual convenings by the executive director. These meetings would continue to focus on controlled gambling regulatory policy and related issues, with recommendations remaining advisory rather than binding on the California Gambling Control Commission. The committee's existing prohibition on advising about Indian gaming matters would continue under the proposed changes.

This modification to the committee's structure operates within the broader framework of the Gambling Control Act, which divides oversight responsibilities between the California Gambling Control Commission and the Department of Justice. The Commission maintains authority over licensing and regulation, while the Department, through its Bureau of Gambling Control, handles investigation and enforcement of gambling activities and establishments.